PEM (Planetary Evolution Model)

Overview of the PEM (Planetary Evolution Model)

The objective of the “Planetary Evolution Model” is to develop numerical climate models to simulate the past environments of Mars, explain the observed landforms, and, on this basis, better understand the past environment on Mars and its evolution.

PEM schematic view ; credit: Francois Forget

To accurately simulate the climate and the fate of volatiles for thousands to millions of years we must couple physical processes with very different timescale, ranging from clouds microphysics and atmospheric dynamics (represented in the GCM) to the evolution of lakes, glacier accumulation, and subsurface ice evolution.

PEM inputs and outputs

• start_evol.nc A Dynamical GCM start file
• startfi_evol.nc A physic GCM start file
• startfi_PEM.nc A start file specific to the PEM
• run.def and run_PEM.def A txt file specifying run parameters
• ob_ex_lsp.asc A txt files specifying orbit parameters
• data_GCM_Y1.nc A netcdf file containing information about the typical year run by the GCM