We present results from the Met Office Unified Model (UM), a world-leading climate and weather model, adapted
to simulate a dry Martian climate. We detail the adaptation of the basic parameterisations and analyse results from two simulations, one with radiatively active mineral dust, and one with radiatively inactive dust. These ...
We present results from the Met Office Unified Model (UM), a world-leading climate and weather model, adapted
to simulate a dry Martian climate. We detail the adaptation of the basic parameterisations and analyse results from two simulations, one with radiatively active mineral dust, and one with radiatively inactive dust. These simulations demonstrate how
the radiative effects of dust act to accelerate the winds and create a mid-altitude isothermal layer during the dusty season. We
validate our model through comparison with an established Mars model, the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Mars
Planetary Climate Model (PCM), finding good agreement in the seasonal wind and temperature profiles, but with discrepancies in the predicted dust mass mixing ratio and conditions at the poles. This study validates the use of the UM for a Martian
atmosphere, it highlights how the adaptation of an Earth GCM can be beneficial for existing Mars GCMs and provides insight
into the next steps in our development of a new Mars climate model.