Detection of saturated internal gravity waves and reconstruction of their characteristics in the Martian atmosphere
An original method for reconstruction of internal gravity wave characteristics has been developed using the data of an analysis of individual vertical temperature, density or Brunt-Vaisala frequency squared profile in the planetary atmosphere. A threshold criterion of internal gravity wave (IGW) identification is formulated and justified, by which, analyzed fluctuations can be considered as wave manifestations. The application of the developed method to vertical temperature profiles of the radio occultation Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) mission made it possible first to detect saturated IGWs in the Martian atmosphere and determine the values of key wave parameters. The propagation of these waves causes a significant modulation of the stability of atmospheric stratification that leads to shear instability and the occurrence of layers of intermittent turbulence in the Martian atmosphere.