Roffman Mars Research
This page updated on 6/15/2016. If there are problems with links to MarsCorrect.Com I suggest you access the information you seek there directly.
BASIC REPORT FOR MARS CORRECT:
CRITIQUE OF ALL NASA MARS WEATHER DATA
ABSTRACT: We present evidence that NASA is seriously understating Martian air pressure. Our 6 year study critiques 1,359 Sols (2 over full Martian years) of highly problematic MSL Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REM) weather data, and offers an in depth audit of over 8,311 hourly Viking 1 and 2 weather reports. We discuss analysis of technical papers, NASA documents, and personal interviews of transducer designers. We troubleshoot pressures based on radio occultation/spectroscopy, and the small pressure ranges that could be measured by Viking (18 mbar), Pathfinder and Phoenix (12 mbar), and MSL (11.5 mbar). For MSL there was a mean pressure of 11.49 mbar measured on its Sol 370. When we made an issue of it with JPL, it was revised to 8.65 mbar. The REMS Team then published pressures of 11.77 mbar (for Sol 1,160) and 12 mbar (for Sol 1,161). Again we made an issue of it again it, and they revised the figures to 8.98 and 8.97 mbar respectively. When they asserted a pressure 1154Pa for Sol 1301, we challenged it and they revised it to 752 Pa. In fact we demonstrate that JPL/REMS weather data was frequently revised after they studied critiques in working versions of this report and on our websites at http://marscorrect.com and http://davidaroffman.com.
Vikings and MSL showed consistent timing of daily pressure spikes. We link this to how gas pressure in a sealed container would vary with Absolute temperature, to heating by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), and to dust clots at air access tubes and dust filters. Pathfinder, Phoenix and MSL wind measurement failures are disclosed. Phoenix and MSL pressure transducer design problems are highlighted with respect to confusion about dust filter location, and lack of information about nearby heat sources due to International Traffic and Arms Regulations (ITAR). NASA could not replicate dust devils at 10 mbar. Rapidly filled MER Spirit tracks required wind speeds of 80 mph at the assumed low pressures. These winds were never recorded on Mars. Nor could NASA explain drifting Barchan sand dunes. Based on the above and dust devils on Arsia Mons to altitudes of 17 km above areoid (Martian equivalent of sea level), spiral storms with 10 km eye-walls above Arsia Mons, dust storm opacity, snow at Phoenix, excessive aero braking, liquid water running on the surface in numerous locations at Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) and stratus clouds 13 km above areoid, we argue for an average pressure at areoid of ~511 mbar rather than the accepted 6.1 mbar. This pressure grows to 1,050 mbar in the Hellas Basin.
| MAIN DOCUMENTS SUPPORTING OUR POSITION THAT ALL NASA MARS WEATHER DATA IS FLAWED: | HOTTEST CURRENT FINDINGS |
| JANUARY 28, 2016: Basic Report for MARS CORRECT: CRITIQUE OF ALL NASA MARS WEATHER DATA | FEBRUARY 12, 2016: Warm Winter Ground Temperatures (many above freezing) at MSL and Possible Life Seen In Conjunction With Them. We look at whether slope plays a role in the warm temperatures as is the case with Recurring Slope Lineae associated with running water on Mars. |
| JUNE 2, 2016: PowerPoint version of our Basic Report is found at Mars Correct? Mars is wet! | JANUARY 17, 2016: Possible spherical life spotted on Mars by MSL. |
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015: RUNNING WATER FOUND AT MANY PLACES ON MARS.
| MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY DAILY WEATHER REPORTS | ||
| MARS SCIENCE LAB SOLS and LINKS | SOLAR LONGITUDE (Ls) | SEASONS |
| 150 to 150 | 4 SEASONS | |
| 151 to 270 | WINTER TO SUMMER YEAR 2 | |
| 270 to 0 (360) | SUMMER YEAR 2 | |
| 0 to 90 | FALL YEAR 2 | |
| 90 to 180 | WINTER YEAR 2 | |
| COMPARISONS BETWEEN MSL YEAR 1 AND MSL YEAR 2 DATA FOR THE SAME LS | ||
| Pressure and Ultraviolet Radiation | ||
| Note 1: Ground temperature sensor is only accurate to 10K. Note 2 dated February 5, 2016: There are unexpected ground temperatures at or above freezing for almost every sol for 3 weeks after the start of MSL Year 2's winter. | ||
SECTION LINK FOR THE BASIC REPORT OF MARS CORRECT: CRITIQUE OF ALL NASA MARS WEATHER DATA
| SECTIONS | FULL NAME OF SECTION | Description of the Section |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Abstract and Section 1 | Abstract, Introduction, and Martian Dust Devils | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 2 to 2.1 | Overview of Instrumentation Problems | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 2.2 to 2.4 | Mars Pathfinder (MPF) and Phoenix Pressure Issues. Finnish Meteorological Institute Issues. | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 2.5 to 2.6 | MSL Pressure Sensor Pegs Out at Sol 370, and the Viking Dust filter. Sols 1160 and 1161 have pressures greater than transducer capability to record. | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 2.6 to 2.7 | Viking Pressure Reports & Digitization, Consistent Daily Pressure Spikes, MSL Weather Reporting Fiasco | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 3 to 4.1.2 | Caves & Spiral storms on Arsia Mons; Snow, Water Ice & Carbon Dioxide; Ls of Minimum Pressure and Maximum Pressure | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 4.1.2 to 6 | Ls of Minimum Pressure and Maximum Pressure (continued), Radio Occultation and Spectroscopy | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 7 to 7.2.1 | Martian Wind Problems, Anemometers/Telltales, & Sand Movements | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 8 to 9 | Downrange Landings; Dust Opacity and Pressure | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 10 to 11 | Excessive Deceleration During Aerobraking Operations and Mars Pathfinder Issues | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 12 to 12.2 | Potential Pressure on Mars, Methane, and Sky Color | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 12.3 to 12.4 | Recurring Slope Lineae, Prechlorates, and Running Water on Mars, High end of pressure on Mars | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 13 to 14.1 | Relative Humidity and Temperature Measurement Concerns, Ground temperature problems | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report Sections 14.1 to 18 | Conclusions, Recommendations, Acknowledgements, and Afterword – What difference could all this possibly make? | |
| Mars Correct Basic Report References | References | |
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| Mars Correct: Critique Of All NASA Mars Weather Data, With Emphasis On Pressure: Annexes (With Links) And Appendices | |
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| Mars Correct: Critique Of All NASA Mars Weather Data, With Emphasis On Pressure: Links To Figures and Tables In The Basic Report |
Direct Links to Mars Research
NOTE: LINKS HERE ARE UNDER REPAIR ON 11/21/2014. SEE http://davidaroffman.com/catalog_1.html.
A quick set of other links to Roffman Mars Research follow. The initial 2010 presentation by David to the 13th International Mars Society Convention in Dayton, Ohio was updated in 2011 by both of us at the Convention in Dallas on August 4, 2011. On March 7, 2012, in accordance with ongoing and new findings about Martian sand moving more than should occur with accepted pressures, and wind speed data findings from the Viking landers, our entire report was updated again.The new links are provided below.
PowerPoint Summary of HIGHER THAN ADVERTISED MARTIAN AIR PRESSURE - Part 1 by David A. Roffman. Posted February 21, 2012.
PowerPoint Summary of HIGHER THAN ADVERTISED MARTIAN AIR PRESSURE - PART 2 by Barry S. Roffman. Posted August 18 2011.
The Abstract and work on the Annexes for our Basic Report are as follows:
AUDIT OF VIKING PROJECT GROUP DATA
ABSTRACT OF ANNEXES AND APPENDICES
for
CRITIQUE OF ALL NASA MARS WEATHER DATA,
WITH EMPHASIS ON PRESSURE
By Barry S. Roffman and David A. Roffman
After a cursory review of the Viking Project Data it became apparent that an extensive audit was imperative. David A. Roffman wrote a program to extract the Viking Project Data so that it could be further analyzed via Excel. The Viking Project Data did not seem to explain weather phenomena (spiral clouds over Arsia, Mons, dust devils, etc.) clearly seen on Mars. A general discussion of the problems is offered in the Basic Report by David Roffman. The data audit results are presented in seven Annexes. The Viking Project data divides every Martian day into 25 time-bins (hours), each ~59 minutes long.
Annex A (Viking 1 sols 1 to 350) and Annex B (Viking 2 sols 156 to 361) emphasize how pressures change during morning times-bins that correspond to 0630 to 0830. A simple formula, Pressure predicted = (6.51 mbar*255.77 K)/Temperature K measured, was often correct for 0730.
Annex C examines how often the pressure sensor did not work (stuck or no pressures) between Viking 2 sols 639 and 799.
Annex D examines the percent differences between hourly predictions and reported pressures for Viking 1 from sols 1 to 350.
Annex E focuses on predictions and reported pressures for the 0.3 (0730) and .34 (0830) time-bins.
Annex F maps out the best and worst prediction times each day, clearly proving the influence of the RTG heaters on hourly pressure reports.
Annex G shows what went wrong in the transducer selection and testing process. These Annexes provide hard evidence that the Tavis pressure transducers used for the Vikings (and Pathfinder) likely jammed with dust during the landing process. The meaning of this is that it is doubtful that they ever measured ambient pressure conditions of Mars. There is evidence that all subsequent attempts to measure pressure were colored by the reported Viking results. Problems with Phoenix pressures based on a Vaisala transducer are discussed in the Basic Report.
Annex H describes windsock calibration efforts for Mars Pathfinder.
Annex I documents the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) Team and Ashima Research daily weather reports for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover.
Annex J documents concessions by Ashima Research and shows how to correctly calculate daylight hours for MSL.
Annex K shows REMS Team and Ashima Research Weather Reports from Sol 15 to Sol 299.
Annex L shows How Martian Day Length Varies with Ls and Latitude.
Annex M shows One Year of MSL Weather Reports.
Annex N shows weather reports for MSL Year 2 Ls 151 t0270 (late winter to end of spring, Sols 670 to 864.
Annex O presents weather MSL Year 2 Ls 270 to Ls 0 (summer), Sols 865 to 1,020
| SECTION | TOPIC | PAGE |
| Annex Abstract | Overview of data in the Annexes | A-1 |
| ANNEX A | VIKING 1 MORNING PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES and Mars Time-Bin Clock. | A-2 to A-59 |
| ANNEX A Appendix 1 | VL-1 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 to .34 time-bins. Sols 1-116. | A-3 to A-22 |
| Appendix 2 | VL-1 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 134-199. | A-23 to A-34 |
| Appendix 3 | VL-1 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 200-219. | A-35 to A-38 |
| Appendix 4 | VL-1 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 220-304 | A-39 to A-50 |
| Appendix 5 | VL-1 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 305-334 | A-51 to A-55 |
| Appendix 6 | VL-1 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 335-350 | A-56 to A-59 |
| ANNEX B | VIKING 2 MORNING PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES | B-1 to B-39 |
| Appendix 1 | VL-2 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 156-175 | B-2 to B-5 |
| Appendix 2 | VL-2 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 176-199. | B-6 to B-10 |
| Appendix 3 | VL-2 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 201-260. | B-11 to B-20 |
|
Appendix 4 |
VL-2 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 261-290. |
B-21 to B-26 |
| Appendix 5 | VL-2 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 291-305. | B-27 to B-30 |
| Appendix 6 | VL-2 pressures of .26 to .3 time-bins & .3 and .34 time-bins. Sols 306-361 | B-31 to B-39 |
| ANNEX C | VIKING 2 STUCK PRESSURE GAUGE | C-1 to C-54 |
| ANNEX D | PERCENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEASURED PRESSURES ON VIKING AND GAY-LUSSAC/ AMONTON’S LAW-BASED PREDICTIONS http://marscorrect.com/ANNEX%20D%20%209%20September%202013.pdf | D-1 to D-171 |
| Appendix 1 | Viking 1 Sols 1 to 199 | D-3 to D-94 |
| Appendix 2 | Viking 1 Sols 200 to 350 | D-95 to D-171 |
| ANNEX E | Measured vs. Predicted Pressure Percent Differences for Viking-1 Time-bins 0.3 and 0.34 http://marscorrect.com/ANNEX%20E%209%20September%202013.pdf | E-1 to E-14 |
| ANNEX F | Percent Difference Experimental Summary http://marscorrect.com/ANNEX%20F%20%2010%20September%202013.pdf | F-1 to F-18 |
| Appendix 1 | Percent Difference Flow Chart for Viking 1 Sols 1 to 116 & 200 to 350 | F-5 to F-16 |
| Appendix 2 | Histogram with temperatures at successful predictions per time-bins | F-17 to F-18 |
| ANNEX G | Tavis Transducer Specifications and Test Results http://marscorrect.com/ANNEX%20G%2010%20September%202013.pdf | G-1 to G-13 |
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ANNEX H | Calibration Effort for the Mars Pathfinder Tavis Pressure Transducer and IMP Windsock Experiment http://marscorrect.com/Annex%20H%20%209%20September%202013.pdf | H-1 to H-43 |
| ANNEX I | Pressures Reported by the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS). | I-1 to I-28 |
| Appendix 1 | Print Screen Record of Original REMS Team and Ashima Research MSL Weather Reports | I-12 to I-28 |
| ANNEX J | Concessions by Ashima Research and How to Correctly Calculate Daylight Hours for MSL http://marscorrect.com/ANNEX%20J%20%209%20September%202013.pdf | J- 1to J-19 |
| ANNEX K | REMS Team and Ashima Research Weather Reports from Sol 15 to Sol 299. | K-1 to K-34 |
| ANNEX L | How Martian Day Length Varies with Ls and Latitude | L-1 to L-10 |
| ANNEX M | One Year of MSL Weather Reports http://marscorrect.com/Annex%20M%20JULY%2014%202014.pdf | M-1 to M-38 |
| ANNEX N | Weather Reports for MSL Year 2 Ls 151 to Ls 270 (late winter to end of spring), Sols 670 to 864 http://marscorrect.com/ANNEX%20N.pdf | N-1 to N-13 |
| ANNEX O | Weather Reports for MSL Year 2 Ls 270 to Ls 0 (summer), Sols 865 to 1,020 http://marscorrect.com/ANNEX%20O.pdf | O-1 to O-11 |
Part of David's presentation in 2010 was placed on YouTube. Unfortunately, they had camera problems and missed the first 6 slides. What survived is as follows:
YOUTUBE COVERAGE OF PART 2 OF THE 2010 MARS SOCIETY PRESENTATION
Note: corrections about Dr. Ingersoll's positions in 2010 were incorporated into 2012's presentation.
Below: 14th International Mars Society Convention in Dallas, Texas (2011). Left to right: Pat Duggins, National Public Radio of Alabama; CNN Space Correspondent John Zarrella; Embry-Riddle Space-physics senior David Roffman; and author Barry Roffman
