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The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) – Hope Probe – was developed to understand Mars atmospheric circulation, dynamics, and processes through characterization of the Mars atmosphere layers and its interconnections enabled by a unique high-altitude (19,970 km periapse and 42,650 km apoapse) low inclination orbit that will offer an unprecedented local and seasonal time coverage over most of the planet. EMM has three scientific objectives to (A) characterize the state of the Martian lower atmosphere on global scales and its geographic, diurnal and seasonal variability, (B) correlate rates of thermal and photochemical atmospheric escape with conditions in the collisional Martian atmosphere, and (C) characterize the spatial structure and variability of key constituents in the Martian exosphere. The EMM data products include a variety of spectral and imaging data from three scientific instruments measuring Mars at visible, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths and contemporaneously and globally sampled on both diurnal and seasonal timescale. Here, we describe our strategies for addressing each objective with these data in addition to the complementary science data, tools, and physical models that will facilitate our understanding. The results will also fill a unique role by providing diagnostics of the physical processes driving atmospheric structure and dynamics, the connections between the lower and upper atmospheres, and the influences of these on atmospheric escape.

It is known that atmospheric dynamics in the tropical stratosphere have an influence on higher altitudes and latitudes as well as on surface weather and climate. In the tropics, the dynamics are governed by an interplay of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and semiannual oscillation (SAO) of the zonal wind. The QBO is dominant in the lower and middle stratosphere, and the SAO in the upper stratosphere/lower mesosphere. For both QBO and SAO the driving by atmospheric waves plays an important role. In particular, the role of gravity waves is still not well understood. In our study we use observations of the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) satellite instrument to derive gravity wave momentum fluxes and gravity wave drag in order to investigate the interaction of gravity waves with the SAO. These observations are compared with the ERA-Interim reanalysis. Usually, QBO westward winds are much stronger than QBO eastward winds. Therefore, mainly gravity waves with westward-directed phase speeds are filtered out through critical-level filtering already below the stratopause region. Accordingly, HIRDLS observations show that gravity waves contribute to the SAO momentum budget mainly during eastward wind shear, and not much during westward wind shear. These findings confirm theoretical expectations and are qualitatively in good agreement with ERA-Interim and other modeling studies. In ERA-Interim most of the westward SAO driving is due to planetary waves, likely of extratropical origin. Still, we find in both observations and ERA-Interim that sometimes westward-propagating gravity waves may contribute to the westward driving of the SAO. Four characteristic cases of atmospheric background conditions are identified. The forcings of the SAO in these cases are discussed in detail, supported by gravity wave spectra observed by HIRDLS. In particular, we find that the gravity wave forcing of the SAO cannot be explained by critical-level filtering alone; gravity wave saturation without critical levels being reached is also important.

Non‐smoothness arises at cloud edge because, in moist thermodynamics, the thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere are different inside a cloud versus in clear air. In particular, inside a cloud, the vapor pressure of water is constrained by the saturation vapor pressure, which acts as a threshold. Due to this threshold, while the water vapor mixing ratio may vary continuously across cloud edge, its derivatives are not necessarily continuous at cloud edge. Similarly, non‐smoothness also arises for buoyancy and other variables. Consequently, this non‐smoothness in buoyancy and other variables can cause a degraded accuracy in computational simulations. Here we consider special treatment of numerical methods for the interface that arises from phase changes and cloud edges, in order to enhance the accuracy and potentially achieve second‐order accuracy. Numerical solutions are computed for the moist non‐precipitating Boussinesq equations as an idealized cloud‐resolving model with phase changes of water, that is, with cloud formation. Convergence tests, both spatial and temporal, are conducted to measure the numerical error as the grid spacing and time step are refined. While approximately second‐order accuracy is seen in root‐mean‐square (L2 ${L}^{2}$) error, the accuracy is degraded in the maximum (L∞ ${L}^{\\infty }$) error. Discussion is also included on theoretical issues and potential implications for numerical simulations. Plain Language Summary An important issue that arises from clouds is the difference in atmospheric properties inside the cloud versus outside the cloud. Inside a cloud, the vapor pressure of water is constrained by the saturation vapor pressure, which acts as a threshold. Due to this threshold, while water vapor, temperature, and many other common thermodynamic variables may vary continuously across cloud edge, their derivatives are not necessarily continuous. This lack of smoothness poses challenges for numerical approximations on computers. For instance, due to cloud edge, traditional numerical methods used for cloud‐resolving models may suffer a loss of accuracy. In this paper, we study the accuracy degradation that arises from the presence of clouds, and consider whether it is possible to achieve second‐order accuracy for numerical solutions in the presence of clouds and phase changes, where for instance, water vapor changes to cloud water. Key Points Numerical methods are presented for moist atmospheric dynamics and accounting for non‐smoothness at cloud edge Approximately second‐order numerical accuracy is seen in root‐mean‐square (L2 ${L}^{2}$) error, even with cloud formation Degraded accuracy is seen in maximum (L∞ ${L}^{\\infty }$) error, due to clouds

This study analyzes six frontal dust storms in the Middle East during the cold period (October–March), aiming to examine the atmospheric circulation patterns and force dynamics that triggered the fronts and the associated (pre- or post-frontal) dust storms. Cold troughs mostly located over Turkey, Syria and north Iraq played a major role in the front propagation at the surface, while cyclonic conditions and strong winds facilitated the dust storms. The presence of an upper-atmosphere (300 hPa) sub-tropical jet stream traversing from Egypt to Iran constitutes also a dynamic force accompanying the frontal dust storms. Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) observations are used to monitor the spatial and vertical extent of the dust storms, while model (Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS), Regional Climate Model-4 (RegCM4)) simulations are also analyzed. The WRF-Chem outputs were in better agreement with the MODIS observations compared to those of CAMS and RegCM4. The fronts were identified by WRF-Chem simulations via gradients in the potential temperature and sudden changes of wind direction in vertical cross-sections. Overall, the uncertainties in the simulations and the remarkable differences between the model outputs indicate that modelling of dust storms in the Middle East is really challenging due to the complex terrain, incorrect representation of the dust sources and soil/surface characteristics, and uncertainties in simulating the wind speed/direction and meteorological dynamics. Given the potential threat by dust storms, more attention should be directed to the dust model development in this region.

The last decade shows increased variability in the Arctic Oscillation (AO) index for December. Over eastern North America such increased variability depended on amplification of the climatological longwave atmospheric circulation pattern. Recent negative magnitudes of the AO have increased geopotential thickness west of Greenland and cold weather in the central and eastern United States. Although the increased variance in the AO is statistically significant based on 9-yr running standard deviations from 1950 to 2014, one cannot necessarily robustly attribute the increase to steady changes in external sources (sea temperatures, sea ice) rather than a chaotic view of internal atmospheric variability; this is due to a relatively short record and a review of associated atmospheric dynamics. Although chaotic internal variability dominates the dynamics of atmospheric circulation, Arctic thermodynamic influence can reinforce the regional geopotential height pattern. Such reinforcement suggests a conditional or state dependence on whether an Arctic influence will impact subarctic severe weather, based on different circulation regimes. A key conclusion is the importance of recent variability over potential trends in Arctic and subarctic atmospheric circulation. Continued thermodynamic Arctic changes are suggested as a Bayesian prior leading to a probabilistic approach for potential subarctic weather linkages and the potential for improving seasonal forecasts.

We present joint analysis of the UV (365 nm) images captured by the cameras on board ESA’s Venus Express and JAXA’s Akatsuki spacecraft. These observations enabled almost continuous characterization of the cloud top circulation over the longest period of time so far (2006–2021). More than 46,000 wind vectors were derived from tracking the UV cloud features and revealed changes in the atmospheric circulation with the period of 12.5 ± 0.5 years. The zonal wind component is characterized by an annual mean of −98.6 ± 1.3 m/s and an amplitude of 10.0 ± 1.6 m/s. The mean meridional wind velocity is −2.3 ± 0.2 m/s and has an amplitude of 3.4 ± 0.3 m/s. Plausible physical explanations of the periodicity include both internal processes and external forcing. Both missions observed periodical changes in the UV albedo correlated with the circulation variability. This could result in acceleration or deceleration of the winds due to modulation of the deposition of the radiative energy in the clouds. The circulation can be also affected by the solar cycle that has a period of approximately 11 years with a large degree of deviation from the mean. The solar cycle correlated with the wind observations can probably influence both the radiative balance and chemistry of the mesosphere. The discovered periodicity in the cloud top circulation of Venus, and especially its similarity with the solar cycle, is strongly relevant to the study of exoplanets in systems with variable “suns”.

Although numerous observational and theoretical studies have examined the mean and turbulent structure of the tropical cyclone boundary layer (TCBL) over the open ocean, there have been comparatively fewer studies that have examined the kinematic and thermal structure of the TCBL across the land–ocean interface. This study examines the impact of different continental environments on the thermodynamic evolution of the TCBL during the landfall transition using high-resolution, full-physics numerical simulations. During landfall, the changes in the wind field within the TCBL due to the development of the internal boundary layer (IBL), combined with the formation of a surface cold pool, generates a pronounced thermal asymmetry in the boundary layer. As a result, the maximum thermodynamic boundary layer height occurs in the rear-right quadrant of the storm relative to its motion. In addition, azimuthal and vertical advection by the mean flow lead to enhanced turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in front of the vortex (enhancing dissipative heating immediately onshore) and onshore precipitation to the left of the storm track (stabilizing the environment). The strength and depth of thermal asymmetry in the boundary layer depend on the contrast in temperature and moisture between the continental and storm environments. Dry air intrusion enhances cold pool formation and stabilizes the onshore boundary layer, reducing mechanical mixing and accelerating the decay of the vortex. The temperature contrast between the continental and storm environments establishes a coastal baroclinic zone, producing stronger baroclinicity and inflow on the left of the track and weaker baroclinicity on the right. The resulting gradient imbalance in the front-right quadrant triggers radial outflow through a gradient adjustment process that redistributes momentum and mass to restore dynamical balance. Therefore, the surface thermodynamic conditions over land play a critical role in shaping the evolution of the TCBL during landfall, with the strongest asymmetries in thermodynamic boundary layer height emerging when there are large thermal contrasts between the hurricane and the continental environment.

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are of fundamental importance in the dynamics of the atmospheric circulation and the climate system. They are often observed to develop over significant terrain in ambient shear flows in midlatitudes and embedded within the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and convectively coupled equatorial wave (CCEW) envelopes, as well as in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Yet general circulation models (GCMs) fail to resolve these systems, and their underlying convective parameterizations are not directed to represent organized circulations. Shear-parallel MCSs, which are common in the ITCZ, have a three-dimensional structure and, as such, present a serious modeling challenge. Here, a previously developed multicloud model (MCM) is modified to parameterize MCSs. One of the main modifications is the parameterization of stratiform condensation to capture extended stratiform outflows, which characterize MCSs, resulting from strong upper-level jets. Linear analysis shows that, under the influence of a typical double African and equatorial jet shear flow, this modification results in an additional new scale-selective instability peaking at the mesoalpha scale of roughly 400 km. Nonlinear simulations conducted with the modified MCM on a 400 km × 400 km doubly periodic domain, without rotation, resulted in the spontaneous transition from a quasi-two-dimensional shear-perpendicular convective system, consistent with linear theory, to a fully three-dimensional flow structure. The simulation is characterized by shear-parallel bands of convection, moving slowly eastward, embedded in stratiform systems that expand perpendicularly and propagate westward with the upper-level jet. The mean circulation and the implications for the domain-averaged vertical transport of momentum and potential temperature are discussed.

A balloon-borne instrument was designed to measure the electric field in thunderstorms. One case of thunderstorm was observed in the Pingliang region (35.57∘ N, 106.59∘ E; and 1620 m above sea level, a.s.l.) of a Chinese inland plateau, through penetration by the balloon-borne sounding in the early period of the mature stage. Results showed that the sounding passed through seven predominant charge regions. A negative charge region with a depth of 800 m located near the surface, and a positive charge region appeared in the warm cloud region; their mean charge densities were −0.44 ± 0.136 and 0.43 ± 0.103 nC m−3, respectively. Five charge regions existed in the region colder than 0 ∘C, and charge polarity alternated in a vertical direction with a positive charge at the lowest region. The mean charge densities for these five regions were 0.40±0.037 nC m−3 (−9.5 to −4 ∘C), -0.63±0.0107 nC m−3 (−18 to −14 ∘C), 0.35±0.063 nC m−3 (−27 to −18 ∘C), -0.36±0.057 nC m−3 (−34 to −27 ∘C), and 0.24±0.06 nC m−3 (−38 to −34 ∘C). We speculated that the two independent positive charge regions in the lower portion are the same charge region with a weak charge density layer in the middle. The analysis showed that the real charge structure of the thunderstorm is more complex than the tripole model, and the lower dipole is the most intensive charge region in the thunderstorm. Keywords. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (atmospheric electricity)

The most radio-powerful intracloud lightning emissions are associated with a phenomenon variously called \"narrow bipolar events\" or \"compact intracloud discharges\". This article examines in detail the coincidence and timing relationship between, on the one hand, the most radio-powerful intracloud lightning events and, on the other hand, optical outputs (or lack thereof) of the same discharge process. This is done, first, using coordinated very high frequency (VHF) and optical observations from the FORTE satellite and, second, using coordinated sferic and all-sky optical observations from the Los Alamos Sferic Array. In both cases, it is found that the sought coincidences are exceedingly rare. Moreover, in the handful of coincidences between optical and intense radio emissions that have been identified, the radio emissions differ from their usual behavior, by being accompanied by approximately simultaneous \"conventional\" lightning radio emissions. It is implied that the most radio-powerful intracloud emission process essentially differs from ordinary incandescent lightning.