SYNOPTIC MEASUREMENTS OF MARTIAN WINDS USING THE HUBBLE-SPACE-TELESCOPE

We used the Hubble Space Telescope to make wind speed and wind directi on measurements of the Martian atmosphere during early northern summer (L-s=97 degrees). Our strategy utilized a series of near-UV images wi th optimal temporal sampling to track observable cloud features and to determine the direction and speed of cloud motion. Several techniques were used to identify similar features between images, including Four ier transform and cross-correlation. In these measurements, which span 19-75 degrees N lat and 319 degrees E to 135 degrees W ion, we find a verage wind speeds of 26.2 +/- 10.1 m/s and a range of wind directions from 51 degrees to 162 degrees with an average error of 123 degrees.