Data Set Information

 
Citation Citation TBD
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) 10.17189/8prh-4h88
Data Set Abstract This data set consists of the raster-averaged radiant intensities and associated data parameters produced from data acquired by the Mars Atmospheric Water Detectors (MAWD) onboard the Viking Orbiters. The basic observations give temporal coverage spanning just over two martian years and variable, but extensive, spatial coverage of the planet. MAWD was a five-channel grating spectrometer measuring solar radiation reflected from the surface and atmosphere of Mars in and out of water vapor bands in the 1.4 micrometer spectral interval. The data set described here contains the solar reflected radiant intensities (i.e., radiances) measured by MAWD, derived water vapor column abundances, a derived '1.4-micrometer brightness', and ancillary data (e.g., viewing geometry, surface elevation and air mass). Column water vapor abundances were derived by comparing the reflected radiant intensities in three water vapor absorption bands to radiant intensities in the two interspersed continua observed air mass and then normalized by the air mass to obtain a vertical column abundance. A basic description of the instrument, its observational modes and its derived data products is given in [FARMER_ETAL_1977]. A description of the global and seasonal variation of water vapor on Mars, based on the complete MAWD observational record, is given in [JAKOSKY_FARMER_1982]. This data set was generated from the raster-level data base constructed during the Viking Mission on the original data processing system (IRPS: Infrared Processing System) by the MAWD Science Team, led by C. B. Farmer, JPL. Together with the instantaneous field of view (IFOV) radiances and geometry, the raster-level radiances, associated water column abundances and ancillary data have been archived at the NSSDC (NSSDC id 75-075A-03A, 75-083A-03A). Data from the final phase of the VO-1 mission were added, supervised by R. Zurek, JPL. Eventually, the data set was restructured, additional quality flags were introduced, and a second estimate of the water vapor column abundance (WFAPT, termed COLUMN_H2O_A in the data set) was added [by R. Zurek, JPL [JAKOSKY_ETAL_1988].]. The data base was restructured, while preserving key unique parameters, into a consistent format with the Viking Orbiter Infrared Thermal Mapper (IRTM) data [R. Mehlman, R. Zurek]. Both the MAWD and IRTM data sets were then accessible with the XXFUNC package. Further quality checking of the MAWD data was carried out by B. Jakosky, U. Colorado.
Search/Access Data
  • Atmospheres Online Archives
  • Atmospheres Online Archives
  •    
    Additional Information
    Mission Information VIKING
    Data Set Information VO1/VO2-M-MAWD-4-V1.0
    Instrument Host Information VO1
    VO2
    Instrument Information MAWD
    MAWD
    Target Information MARS