First observations of the planetary Fourier spectrometer at Mars Original Research Article

The first results of the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) orbiting the planet Mars are reviewed and discussed here, with reference to a set of studies being published elsewhere. An average global spectrum ranging from 200 to 8200 cm−1 is discussed by comparing it to the ISO SWS Martian spectrum and to the global synthetic spectrum computed using only CO2, CO, H2O gases. PFS is able to measure the vertical temperature–pressure profile in the Martian atmosphere and the temperature of the soil. The SW channel shows the major CO2 bands at 4.3 and 2.7 μm. The bottom of the first band shows very clearly the non LTE emission of the high atmospheric CO2 gas, and the dust content in the atmosphere. In one of the first orbit passing over the Olympus Mons, the temperature field retrieved shows abnormal adiabatic cooling in the atmosphere above the mountain, while the soil temperature of the volcano is higher than the latitudinal profile expectation because of a better illumination from the sun. Many solar lines are observed, a few of them are studied and compared to ISO observations.