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Four-planet meteorologyAll planets with atmospheres have common characteristics which are helpful in understanding weather and climate on earth. Of the terrestrial planets, Mars displays the most earth-like characteristics. The feedback mechanism of the Martian Great Dust Storms may control climate on a global scale and shows some parallels to the water cycle on the earth. Venus, on the other hand, has atmosphere motions and characteristics far different from those of earth but appears to be valuable for comparative meteorology and it seems to be a simple weather machine due to absence of axial tilt. A completely gaseous Jupiter also can help because its atmosphere, driven by internal heat, flows round-and-round, showing the same general patterns for years at a time. Results of studying extraterrestrial atmospheres are most important for understanding earth's multi-year weather cycles such as the droughts in the American West every 22 years or effects of the Little Ice Age (1450-1915) on agriculture in the North Hemisphere.
Document ID
19790054886
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Spaceflight
Volume: 21
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
79A38899
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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