The Effects Of Co2 Clouds On The Thermal Structure Of
The Early Mars Atmosphere
K. E. Steakley, (Kathryn.E.Steakley@Nasa.Gov) Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Moffett Field, Ca,
Usa, M. A. Kahre, R. M. Haberle, Nasa Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Ca, Usa.

Introduction:
Constraining The Influence Of Clouds On The Ancient Martian Climate Is Critically Important To Understanding What May Have Warmed The Planet During
The Noachian. Climate Modeling Studies Demonstrate
That Both Co2 Clouds And H2o Clouds Are Capable Of
Influencing The Thermal Structure Of The Early Martian
Atmosphere [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. However, There Is Variation In The Predicted Degree Of That Influence Over
Various Parameter Spaces (E.G., Surface Pressure, [3])
And Among Different Models (E.G., Wordsworth Et Al.
[4] Vs. Kite Et Al. [7]). This Is A Reflection Of The
Sensitivity Of Simulated Atmospheres To The Multiple
Effects Of Clouds And Is Part Of The Difficulty Of Accounting For Cloud Physics In Models. Some Early
Mars Climate Modeling Studies Have Omitted Co2
Clouds Altogether. Here We Conduct A Physical Processes Study To Characterize The Behavior Of Co2
Clouds In The 3-D Nasa Ames Early Mars Global
Climate Model (Emgcm) And Describe The Physics