How NASA Appears to Fudge the MSL Pressure Data To Keep It On the Expected Curve
This page (written only by Barry S. Roffman) is under expansion and update on 8/24/2019
Figure 1 above: The top and bottom curves show pressure fluctuations over 4 Martian years at Viking 1 and 2 sites. An approximation of the MSL data for its first year is in black between them. On the left is a reproduction of the Phoenix data. The Phoenix and MSL data most closely matches Viking 2. Adapted from the Tillman, Viking Computer Facility, from Nelli et al., 2009, and from the REMS Team and Ashima Research. MSL and Phoenix carried similar Vaisala pressure transducers. We suspect that MSL pressures published were fudged approximations founded on the accepted Viking pressure curves shown above rather than legitimate pressure readings. The 11.49 mbar pressure for Sol 370 was removed by JPL after we made an issue about it. The 11.77 mbar and 12 mbar pressures for Sols 1160 and 1161 (November 10-12, 2015) both exceed the 11.5 mbar capability of the transducer on MSL, but they were also reduced later.
Figure 2 above - It was quickly noticed after the MSL Landing on August 6, 2012 that there were often higher than expected pressures that JPL was revising downward.
See Table 1 for details.
TABLE 3 – Pressures revised by JPL/REMS after we highlighted them or published them in earlier version of our Report | ||||||
Date | MSL Sol | Ls | Initial Pressure Reported | Pressure for the previous sol | Final Pressure Reported after JPL Revisions | |
Aug 25, 2012 | 19 | 160.4 | 785 Pa |
| 719 Pa– then changed to N/A | |
Aug 27, 2012 | 21 | 161.4 | 790 Pa | N/A | 741 Pa | |
Sept 1 to Sept 5, 2012 | 26 | 164 | 742 to 747 hPa 74200 to 74700 (Pa) | 743 Pa | 745, 743, 745, 747 and 747 Pa | |
Sep 12, 2012 (This date later changed to 9/11/2012) | 36 | 169.5 | 799 Pa | 749 Pa | 750 Pa | |
Sep 16, 2012 (date later altered) | 39 | 172.3 | 804 Pa | 750 Pa | 753 Pa - then changed to 751 Pa
| |
Oct 3, 2012 Series alteration starts here and goes to 10/12/2012 | 57 | 181 | 779 Pa | 770 Pa | 769 – Pa. Note the steady progression without reversals that were seen between 10/3/2012 and 10/12/2012 in initial results. This series looks very fudged. | |
Oct 4, 2012 | 58 | 182 | 779 Pa |
| 769 Pa | |
Oct 5, 2012 | 59 | 183 | 781 Pa |
| 771 Pa | |
Oct 6, 2012 | 60 | 183 | 785 Pa |
| 772 Pa | |
Oct 7, 2012 | 61 | 184 | 779 Pa |
| 772 Pa | |
Oct 8, 2012 | 62 | 184 | 782 Pa |
| 774 Pa | |
Oct 9, 2012 | 63 | 185 | 786 Pa |
| 775 Pa | |
Oct 10, 2012 | 64 | 186 | 785 Pa |
| 776 Pa | |
Oct 11, 2012 | 65 | 186 | 785 Pa |
| 777 Pa | |
Oct 12, 2012 | 66 | 187 | 781 Pa |
| 778 Pa | |
Nov 11, 2012 | 95 | 204 | 815.53 Pa | 822.43 Pa | 822 Pa | |
Dec 8, 2012 | 121 | 221 | 865.4 Pa | 867.5 Pa | 869 | |
Feb 19, 2013 | 192 | 267 | 940 Pa – a high until now. Pressures had been declining since a high of 925 Pa in late January 2013. | 921 | N/A | |
Feb 22, 2013 | 195 | 269 | 886 Pa – quite a large drop | Last 2 reports were 940 Pa on Feb 19 and 921 Pa on Feb 18, 2012 | N/A | |
Feb 27, 2013 | 200 | 272 | 937 Pa | 917 Pa | N/A | |
May 2, 2013 | 262 | 311 | 900 Pa | 868.05 Pa | N/A | |
Aug 21, 2013 | 370 | 9 | 1,149 Pa | 865 Pa | 865 Pa | |
Aug 27, 2014 | 731 | 185 | 754 Pa | 771 Pa | 771 Pa | |
Oct 11, 2014 | 775 | 211 | 823 Pa | 838 Pa | 838 Pa | |
April 16, 2015 | 957 | 326 | 823 Pa | N/A - next sol 848 Pa | N/A | |
Nov 10, 2015 | 1160 | 66 | 1177 Pa | 898 Pa | 899 Pa | |
Nov 12, 2015 | 1161 | 66 | 1200 Pa | 899 Pa (revised) | 898 Pa | |
April 2, 2016 | 1300 | 131 | 945 Pa | 753 Pa | 752 Pa | |
April 3, 2016 | 1301 | 131 | 1154 Pa | 753 Pa (2 sols earlier, 751 Pa on Sol 1302 | 752 Pa | |
Oct 17, 2016 | 1492 | 242 | 921 Pa | 906 Pa | 910 Pa | |
Oct 23, 2016 | 1498 | 242 | 897 Pa | 909 Pa | 907 Pa | |
Oct 27, 2016 | 1502 | 249 | 928 Pa | 903 Pa | 907 Pa | |
Jan 10, 2017 | 1575 | 296 | 860 Pa | 868 Pa | 871 Pa | |
Feb 10, 2017 | 1605 | 314 | 815 Pa | 850 Pa | 846 Pa | |
Aug 13, 2017 | 1784 | 46 | 1294 Pa | 879 Pa | 883 Pa | |
Mar 24, 2018 | 2001 | 147 | 913 Pa | 717 Pa | 716 | |
Mar 25, 2018 | 2002 | 148 | 1167 Pa | 913 revised to 716 Pa | 715 | |
Nov 7, 2018 | 2223 | 283 | 850 Pa | 865 Pa | 863 Pa | |
Nov 12, 2018 | 2228 | 286 | 884 Pa | 863 Pa | 860 Pa | |
Aug 8, 2019 | 2490 | 63 | 887 Pa | 872 Pa | 873 Pa |
Table 1 shows some (not all) of how JPL/REMS altered off the curve data for August and September 2012 and August 2013 and on through at least August 14, 2019, after we either brought the deviations up to JPL Public Relations Director Guy Webster, or published on our davidaroffman.com and marscorrect.com websites.
Figure 3 - Sol 829 is another example of how JPL changes questionable data to put it on the expected curve.
So far JPL has not permitted the unrevised publication of any pressure change in MSL Year 2 that differed by more than 7 Pascals (.07 mbar/hPa) from the pressure at the same point in the Martian orbit in MSL Year 1 - see Table 2. This is consistent with what they published for Year 1 (relevant data for Year 1 can been seen on Table 1 where they did not like data that differed from the previous sol by more than 7 Pa). In general, if the pressure curve is going up JPL tends to remove or alter data for sols that show a decrease from the previous sol. Likewise, if the pressure curve is declining, they tend to remove or alter data for sols that show an increase from the previous sol. There are some exceptions to this trend around times of maximum or minimum pressure for the year, but in general loyalty to the Tillman Viking 1 and 2 pressure curves rule even though they were related to an understanding of carbon dioxide sublimation or freezing at both poles that was later shown to be overrated.
TABLE 2 – PRESSURE DIFFERENCES FOR IDENTICAL SOLS IN MSL YEARS 1 AND 2 Data up through MSL Sol 800 (the 131st Sol of MSL Year 2) | |||||||||
YR 1 SOL # | YEAR 1 PRESSURE Pa (Yellow or red colored boxes were altered by JPL) | YR 1 ~LS | DATE YEAR 1 | YR 2 SOL NEW # | MSL SOL TOTAL | YEAR 2 PRESSURE Pa | DATE YEAR 2 | ~LS YEAR 2 | CHANGE IN PRESSURE SAME SOL (SIMILAR LS) YR 2 - YR 1 |
1 | N/A | 150 | 8/6/2012 | 1 | 670 | 737 | 6/25/2014 | 151 | N/A |
2 | N/A | 151 | 8/7/2012 | 2 | 671 | 740 | 6/26/2014 | 151 | N/A |
3 | N/A | 152 | 8/8/2012 | 3 | 672 | 739 | 6/27/2014 | 152 | N/A |
4 | N/A | 152 | 8/9/2012 | 4 | 673 | 738 | 6/28/2014 | 152 | N/A |
5 | N/A | 153 | 8/10/2012 | 5 | 674 | 734 | 6/29/2014 | 153 | N/A |
6 | N/A | 153 | 8/11/2012 | 6 | 675 | 740 | 6/30/2014 | 153 | N/A |
7 | N/A | 154 | 8/12/2012 | 7 | 676 | 738 | 7/1/2014 | 154 | N/A |
8 | N/A | 155 | 8/13/2012 | 8 | 677 | 737 | 7/2/2014 | 154 | N/A |
9 | N/A | 155 | 8/14/2012 | 9 | 678 | 739 | 7/3/2014 | 155 | N/A |
10 | 739 | 155 | 8/15/2012 | 10 | 679 | 738 | 7/4/2014 | 155 | -1 |
11 | 740 | 156 | 8/16/2012 | 11 | 680 | 740 | 7/5/2014 | 156 | 0 |
12 | 741 | 156 | 8/17/2012 | 12 | 681 | 738 | 7/6/2014 | 156 | -3 |
13 | 732 | 157 | 8/18/2012 | 13 | 682 | 739 | 7/7/2014 | 157 | 7 |
14 | 740 | 157 | 8/19/2012 | 14 | 683 | 741 | 7/8/2014 | 158 | 1 |
15 | 740 | 158 | 8/20/2012 | 15 | 684 | 741 | 7/9/2014 | 158 | 1 |
16 | 740 | 158 | 8/21/2012 | 16 | 685 | 740 | 7/10/2014 | 159 | 0 |
17 | 742 | 159 | 8/22/2012 | 17 | 686 | 738 | 7/11/2014 | 159 | -4 |
18 | N/A | 160 | 8/23/2012 | 18 | 687 | 739 | 7/12/2014 | 160 | N/A |
19 | N/A | 160 | 8/24/2012 | 19 | 688 | 741 | 7/14/2014 | 160 | N/A |
20 | N/A | 161 | 8/25/2012 | 20 | 689 | 742 | 7/15/2014 | 161 | N/A |
21 | 741 | 161 | 8/26/2012 | 21 | 690 | 741 | 7/16/2014 | 161 | 0 |
22 | 742 | 162 | 8/27/2012 | 22 | 691 | 741 | 7/17/2014 | 162 | -1 |
23 | 741 | 162 | 8/28/2012 | 23 | 692 | 742 | 7/18/2014 | 162 | 1 |
24 | 742 | 163 | 8/29/2012 | 24 | 693 | 741 | 7/19/2014 | 163 | -1 |
25 | 743 | 163 | 8/30/2012 | 25 | 694 | 740 | 7/20/2014 | 164 | -3 |
26 | 745 | 164 | 8/31/2012 | 26 | 695 | 741 | 7/21/2014 | 164 | -4 |
27 | 743 | 164 | 9/1/2012 | 27 | 696 | 743 | 7/22/2014 | 165 | 0 |
28 | 745 | 165 | 9/2/2012 | 28 | 697 | 743 | 7/23/2014 | 165 | -2 |
29 | 747 | 166 | 9/3/2012 | 29 | 698 | 743 | 7/24/2014 | 166 | -4 |
30 | 747 | 166 | 9/4/2012 | 30 | 699 | 744 | 7/25/2014 | 166 | -3 |
31 | 745 | 167 | 9/5/2012 | 31 | 700 | 745 | 7/26/2014 | 167 | 0 |
32 | N/A | 167 | 9/6/2012 | 32 | 701 | 745 | 7/27/2014 | 167 | N/A |
33 | 748 | 168 | 9/7/2012 | 33 | 702 | 745 | 7/28/2014 | 168 | -3 |
34 | 748 | 168 | 9/8/2012 | 34 | 703 | 747 | 7/29/2014 | 169 | -1 |
35 | 749 | 169 | 9/9/2012 | 35 | 704 | 747 | 7/30/2014 | 169 | -2 |
36 | 750 | 169 | 9/10/2012 | 36 | 705 | 746 | 7/31/2014 | 170 | -4 |
37 | 750 | 170 | 9/11/2012 | 37 | 706 | 748 | 8/1/2014 | 170 | -2 |
38 | 750 | 171 | 9/12/2012 | 38 | 707 | 749 | 8/2/2014 | 171 | -1 |
39 | 751 | 171 | 9/13/2012 | 39 | 708 | 749 | 8/3/2014 | 171 | -2 |
40 | 753 | 172 | 9/14/2012 | 40 | 709 | 750 | 8/4/2014 | 172 | -3 |
41 | 753 | 172 | 9/15/2012 | 41 | 710 | 751 | 8/5/2014 | 172 | -2 |
42 | 754 | 173 | 9/16/2012 | 42 | 711 | 751 | 8/6/2014 | 173 | -3 |
43 | 756 | 173 | 9/17/2012 | 43 | 712 | 752 | 8/7/2014 | 174 | -4 |
44 | 757 | 174 | 9/18/2012 | 44 | 713 | 754 | 8/8/2014 | 174 | -3 |
45 | 758 | 175 | 9/19/2012 | 45 | 714 | 754 | 8/9/2014 | 175 | -4 |
46 | 758 | 175 | 9/20/2012 | 46 | 715 | 755 | 8/10/2014 | 175 | -3 |
47 | 758 | 176 | 9/21/2012 | 47 | 716 | 755 | 8/11/2014 | 176 | -3 |
48 | 759 | 176 | 9/22/2012 | 48 | 717 | 756 | 8/12/2014 | 176 | -3 |
49 | 761 | 177 | 9/23/2012 | 49 | 718 | 757 | 8/13/2014 | 177 | -4 |
50 | 761 | 177 | 9/24/2012 | 50 | 719 | 758 | 8/14/2014 | 178 | -3 |
51 | 762 | 178 | 9/25/2012 | 51 | 720 | 761 | 8/15/2014 | 178 | -1 |
52 | 762 | 179 | 9/26/2012 | 52 | 721 | 761 | 8/16/2014 | 179 | -1 |
53 | 764 | 179 | 9/27/2012 | 53 | 722 | 760 | 8/17/2014 | 179 | -4 |
54 | 766 | 180 | 9/28/2012 | 54 | 723 | 761 | 8/18/2014 | 180 | -5 |
55 | 766 | 180 | 9/29/2012 | 55 | 724 | 763 | 8/19/2014 | 181 | -3 |
56 | 768 | 181 | 9/30/2012 | 56 | 725 | 764 | 8/21/2014 | 181 | -4 |
57 | 769 | 181 | 10/1/2012 | 57 | 726 | 766 | 8/22/2014 | 182 | -3 |
58 | 769 | 182 | 10/2/2012 | 58 | 727 | 766 | 8/23/2014 | 182 | -3 |
59 | 771 | 183 | 10/3/2012 | 59 | 728 | 766 | 8/24/2014 | 183 | -5 |
60 | 772 | 183 | 10/4/2012 | 60 | 729 | 768 | 8/25/2014 | 183 | -4 |
61 | 772 | 184 | 10/5/2012 | 61 | 730 | 770 | 8/26/2014 | 184 | -2 |
62 | 774 | 184 | 10/6/2012 | 62 | 731 | 771 | 8/27/2014 | 185 | -3 |
63 | 775 | 185 | 10/7/2012 | 63 | 732 | 773 | 8/28/2014 | 185 | -2 |
64 | 776 | 186 | 10/8/2012 | 64 | 733 | 773 | 8/29/2014 | 186 | -3 |
65 | 777 | 186 | 10/9/2012 | 65 | 734 | 776 | 8/30/2014 | 186 | -1 |
66 | 778 | 187 | 10/10/2012 | 66 | 735 | 776 | 8/31/2014 | 187 | -2 |
67 | 780 | 187 | 10/11/2012 | 67 | 736 | 776 | 9/1/2014 | 188 | -4 |
68 | 781 | 188 | 10/12/2012 | 68 | 737 | 777 | 9/2/2014 | 188 | -4 |
69 | 778 | 189 | 10/13/2012 | 69 | 738 | 778 | 9/3/2014 | 189 | 0 |
70 | 783 | 189 | 10/14/2012 | 70 | 739 | 779 | 9/4/2014 | 189 | -4 |
71 | 784 | 190 | 10/15/2012 | 71 | 740 | 782 | 9/5/2014 | 190 | -2 |
72 | 785 | 190 | 10/16/2012 | 72 | 741 | 784 | 9/6/2014 | 191 | -1 |
73 | 788 | 191 | 10/17/2012 | 73 | 742 | 784 | 9/7/2014 | 191 | -4 |
74 | 790 | 192 | 10/18/2012 | 74 | 743 | 786 | 9/8/2014 | 192 | -4 |
75 | 791 | 192 | 10/19/2012 | 75 | 744 | 788 | 9/9/2014 | 192 | -3 |
76 | 792 | 193 | 10/20/2012 | 76 | 745 | 787 | 9/10/2014 | 193 | -5 |
77 | 792 | 193 | 10/21/2012 | 77 | 746 | 788 | 9/11/2014 | 194 | -4 |
78 | 793 | 194 | 10/22/2012 | 78 | 747 | 789 | 9/12/2014 | 194 | -4 |
79 | 795 | 195 | 10/23/2012 | 79 | 748 | 791 | 9/13/2014 | 195 | -4 |
80 | 796 | 195 | 10/24/2012 | 80 | 749 | 794 | 9/14/2014 | 195 | -2 |
81 | 798 | 196 | 10/25/2012 | 81 | 750 | 796 | 9/15/2014 | 196 | -2 |
82 | 799 | 196 | 10/26/2012 | 82 | 751 | 797 | 9/16/2014 | 197 | -2 |
83 | 801 | 197 | 10/27/2012 | 83 | 752 | 798 | 9/17/2014 | 197 | -3 |
84 | 801 | 198 | 10/28/2012 | 84 | 753 | 800 | 9/18/2014 | 198 | -1 |
85 | 805 | 198 | 10/29/2012 | 85 | 754 | 803 | 9/19/2014 | 198 | -2 |
86 | 808 | 199 | 10/30/2012 | 86 | 755 | 806 | 9/20/2014 | 199 | -2 |
87 | 808 | 199 | 10/31/2012 | 87 | 756 | 806 | 9/21/2014 | 200 | -2 |
88 | 811 | 200 | 11/1/2012 | 88 | 757 | 807 | 9/22/2014 | 200 | -4 |
89 | 813 | 201 | 11/2/2012 | 89 | 758 | 810 | 9/23/2014 | 201 | -3 |
90 | 813 | 201 | 11/3/2012 | 90 | 759 | 809 | 9/24/2014 | 201 | -4 |
91 | 817 | 202 | 11/4/2012 | 91 | 760 | 810 | 9/25/2014 | 202 | -7 |
92 | 820 | 202 | 11/5/2012 | 92 | 761 | 814 | 9/27/2014 | 203 | -6 |
93 | 819 | 203 | 11/6/2012 | 93 | 762 | 814 | 9/28/2014 | 203 | -5 |
94 | 822 | 204 | 11/7/2012 | 94 | 763 | 817 | 9/29/2014 | 204 | -5 |
95 | 822 | 204 | 11/8/2012 | 95 | 764 | 821 | 9/30/2014 | 205 | -1 |
96 | 826 | 205 | 11/9/2012 | 96 | 765 | 820 | 10/1/2014 | 205 | -6 |
97 | 828 | 206 | 11/10/2012 | 97 | 766 | 824 | 10/2/2014 | 206 | -4 |
98 | 828 | 206 | 11/11/2012 | 98 | 767 | 824 | 10/3/2014 | 206 | -4 |
99 | 829 | 207 | 11/12/2012 | 99 | 768 | 826 | 10/4/2014 | 207 | -3 |
100 | 829 | 207 | 11/13/2012 | 100 | 769 | 829 | 10/5/2014 | 208 | 0 |
101 | 830 | 208 | 11/14/2012 | 101 | 770 | 829 | 10/6/2014 | 208 | -1 |
102 | 833 | 209 | 11/15/2012 | 102 | 771 | 836 | 10/7/2014 | 209 | 3 |
103 | 836 | 209 | 11/16/2012 | 103 | 772 | 835 | 10/8/2014 | 210 | -1 |
104 | 838 | 210 | 11/17/2012 | 104 | 773 | 838 | 10/9/2014 | 210 | 0 |
105 | 839 | 211 | 11/18/2012 | 105 | 774 | 838 | 10/10/2014 | 211 | -1 |
106 | 841 | 211 | 11/19/2012 | 106 | 775 | 838 | 10/11/2014 | 211 | -3 |
107 | 844 | 212 | 11/20/2012 | 107 | 776 | 841 | 10/12/2014 | 212 | -3 |
108 | 845 | 212 | 11/21/2012 | 108 | 777 | 841 | 10/13/2014 | 213 | -4 |
109 | 844 | 213 | 11/22/2012 | 109 | 778 | 846 | 10/14/2014 | 213 | 2 |
110 | 848 | 214 | 11/23/2012 | 110 | 779 | 845 | 10/15/2014 | 214 | -3 |
111 | 849 | 214 | 11/24/2012 | 111 | 780 | 852 | 10/16/2014 | 215 | 3 |
112 | 852 | 215 | 11/25/2012 | 112 | 781 | 849 | 10/17/2014 | 215 | -3 |
113 | 857 | 216 | 11/26/2012 | 113 | 782 | 854 | 10/18/2014 | 216 | -3 |
114 | 857 | 216 | 11/27/2012 | 114 | 783 | 853 | 10/19/2014 | 216 | -4 |
115 | 857 | 217 | 11/28/2012 | 115 | 784 | 857 | 10/20/2014 | 217 | 0 |
116 | 859 | 217 | 11/29/2012 | 116 | 785 | 858 | 10/21/2014 | 218 | -1 |
117 | 861 | 218 | 11/30/2012 | 117 | 786 | 861 | 10/22/2014 | 218 | 0 |
118 | 864 | 219 | 12/1/2012 | 118 | 787 | 860 | 10/23/2014 | 219 | -4 |
119 | 866 | 219 | 12/2/2012 | 119 | 788 | 862 | 10/24/2014 | 220 | -4 |
120 | 867 | 220 | 12/3/2012 | 120 | 789 | 862 | 10/25/2014 | 220 | -5 |
121 | 869 | 221 | 12/4/2012 | 121 | 790 | 864 | 10/26/2014 | 221 | -5 |
122 | 869 | 221 | 12/5/2012 | 122 | 791 | 867 | 10/27/2014 | 222 | -2 |
123 | 875 | 222 | 12/6/2012 | 123 | 792 | 873 | 10/28/2014 | 222 | -2 |
124 | 876 | 223 | 12/7/2012 | 124 | 793 | 877 | 10/29/2014 | 223 | 1 |
125 | 880 | 223 | 12/8/2012 | 125 | 794 | 874 | 10/30/2014 | 223 | -6 |
126 | 880 | 224 | 12/9/2012 | 126 | 795 | 875 | 10/31/2014 | 224 | -5 |
127 | 884 | 224 | 12/10/2012 | 127 | 796 | 877 | 11/1/2014 | 225 | -7 |
128 | 883 | 225 | 12/11/2012 | 128 | 797 | 879 | 11/3/2014 | 225 | -4 |
129 | 886 | 226 | 12/12/2012 | 129 | 798 | 883 | 11/4/2014 | 226 | -3 |
130 | 888 | 226 | 12/13/2012 | 130 | 799 | 884 | 11/5/2014 | 227 | -4 |
131 | 889 | 227 | 12/14/2012 | 131 | 800 | 884 | 11/6/2014 | 227 | -5 |
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| MEAN = |
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| -2.516949153 |
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| STANDARD DEV = |
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| 2.115199576 |
REVISITING THE ISSUE OF PRESSURE CHANGES IN 2016. Between July 3 and July 11, 2016, as I swam laps in our condominium pool at night, I enjoyed looking up into the sky over our home in Cape Canaveral because the view of Mars was spectacular. So, without consulting any books, I knew that there was no excuse of Mars being on the wrong side of the sun to explain why NASA/JPL and the REMS Team had no weather data for sols 1389 through 1397 (see Figure 3 and Tables 4A and 4B below). Then, when they resumed data for Sol 1,398 (at Ls 184), the pressure offered (751 Pa) was far too low based on pressure for the same Ls in MSL Years 1 and 2 (772 and 770 Pa). I expected to see about ~770 Pa. But the pressure for Sol 1,399 was right back on the expected curve at 770 Pa. I don’t know if the 751 Pa for Sol 1,398 was based on a partial sol of pressure, with instrumentation just coming back on line. Maybe that will turn out to be the excuse. But the return to the exact pressure expected on Sol 1,399 was likely due to what I have seen before – manipulated data. If JPL can provide evidence to the contrary we will publish it. But the graph below and the tables that follow it illustrate what we have seen all too often before, and that’s a problem, especially for SpaceX if it wants to beat NASA in sending people to Mars. Underestimating pressures there can have catastrophic results.
Figure 4 - Pressures from the 732 Pa minimum pressure on Sol 1,334 (Ls 148) until Sol 1,404 (Ls 187). Note the lack of data after Sol 1,388 until Sol 1,398. It can also be seen that pressure data for Sol 1,398 is well below what would be expected and what is claimed for Sol 1,399.
Table 4A below - MSL weather data for Sols 1,334 to 1,392. The REMS Team published no data for MSL Year 3 Sols 1,389 through 1,392 (and as Table 4B show, no data from there until Sol 1398). Table 4A covers the late winter at MSL in the southern hemisphere. Table 4B covers the early spring at MSL in the southern hemisphere.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T |
SOL | ~LS | PRESSURE Pa | EARTH DATE | MAX AIR TEMP °C | MIN AIR TEMP °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C/40 | MAX GROUND TEMP °C | MIN GROUND TEMP °C | ∆ GROUND TEMP DAY TO NIGHT | DAYTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | NIGHTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | PRESSURE AT SAME LS IN MSL YEAR 1 | ∆ PRESSURE YEAR 1 TO YEAR 2 SAME LS | ~LS year 1 | PRESSURE YEAR 1 BEFORE REVISION | UV YR 2 | UV YR 1 | COMMENTS |
YELLOW IF <60 °C | GREEN IF <1.5 | RED IF > 0 °C | PURPLE = >-90°C OR COLDER | Yellow numbers = -80 to -89 °C, red background = -90°C or colder drop | BLUE = >10°C | PURPLE = >10°C | YELLOW = > 7 Pa) | ||||||||||||
1334 | 148 | 732 | 5/7/2016 | -12 | -77 | -65 | 1.625 | 0 | -78 | -78 | 12 | -1 | 735 | -1 | 148 | N/A | H | H | Low Pressure for Year 1 is tied on Year 2 |
1335 | 149 | 732 | 5/8/2016 | -10 | -77 | -67 | 1.675 | 1 | -77 | -78 | 11 | 0 | 736 | -4 | 148 | N/A | H | H | First day over freezing since Sol 1316 , Pressure remains tied with last year's low at 732 Pa. |
1336 | 149 | 732 | 5/9/2016 | -12 | -75 | -63 | 1.575 | 1 | -76 | 77 | 13 | -1 | 736 | -4 | 149 | N/A | H | H | Pressure remains tied with last year's low at 732 Pa. |
1337 | 150 | 734 | 5/10/2016 | -13 | -76 | -63 | 1.575 | 1 | -79 | -80 | 14 | -3 | 734 | 0 | 150 | N/A | H | H | |
1338 | 150 | 734 | 5/11/2016 | -18 | -75 | -57 | 1.425 | 0 | -78 | -78 | 18 | -3 | 735 | -1 | 150 | N/A | H | H | |
END OF MSL YEAR 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
SOL | ~LS | PRESSURE Pa | EARTH DATE | MAX AIR TEMP °C | MIN AIR TEMP °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C/40 | MAX GROUND TEMP °C | MIN GROUND TEMP °C | ∆ GROUND TEMP DAY TO NIGHT | DAYTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | NIGHTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | PRESSURE AT SAME LS IN MSL YEAR 2 | ∆ PRESSURE YEAR 2 TO YEAR 3 SAME LS | ~LS Year 2 | PRESSURE YEAR 2 BEFORE REVISION | UV YR 3
| UV YR 2 | COMMENTS (AND CORRESPONDING YEAR 2 SOL NUMBER) |
1339 | 151 | 733 | 5/12/2016 | -18 | -77 | -59 | 1.475 | 2 | -77 | -79 | 20 | 0 | 737 | -4 | 151 | N/A | H | H | (670) |
1340 | 151 | 734 | 5/13/2016 | -15 | -76 | -61 | 1.525 | 3 | -77 | -80 | 18 | -1 | 740 | -6 | 151 | N/A | H | H | (671) |
1341 | 152 | 735 | 5/14/2016 | -9 | -76 | -67 | 1.675 | 1 | -77 | -78 | 10 | -1 | 739 | -4 | 152 | N/A | H | H | (672) |
1342 | 152 | 735 | 5/15/2016 | -7 | -80 | -73 | 1.825 | -4 | -77 | -73 | 3 | 3 | 738 | -3 | 152 | N/A | H | H | Largest temperature range ths winter (-73 °C) (673) |
1343 | 153 | 735 | 5/17/2016 | -8 | -74 | -66 | 1.65 | -6 | -71 | -65 | 2 | 3 | 734 | +1 | 153 | N/A | H | H | (674) |
1344 | 153 | 734 | 5/18/2016 | -14 | -75 | -61 | 1.525 | -3 | -72 | -69 | 11 | 3 | 740 | -6 | 153 | N/A | H | H | (675) |
1345 | 154 | 735 | 5/19/2016 | -19 | -75 | -56 | 1.4 | -1 | -74 | -73 | 18 | 1 | 738 | -3 | 154 | N/A | H | H | (676) |
1346 | 155 | 737 | 5/20/2016 | -16 | -75 | -59 | 1.475 | 9 | -73 | -82 | 25 | 2 | 737 | 0 | 154 | N/A | H | M | (677) |
1347 | 155 | 736 | 5/21/2016 | -16 | -75 | -59 | 1.475 | 9 | -85 | -94 | 25 | -10 | 739 | -3 | 155 | N/A | H | M | (678) |
1348 | 156 | 735 | 5/22/2016 | -15 | -76 | -61 | 1.525 | 11 | -85 | -96 | 26 | -9 | 738 | -3 | 155 | N/A | H | M | (679) |
1349 | 156 | 737 | 5/23/2016 | -9 | -73 | -64 | 1.6 | 10 | -84 | -94 | 19 | -11 | 740 | -3 | 156 | N/A | H | M | (680) |
1350 | 157 | 738 | 5/24/2016 | -9 | -73 | -64 | 1.6 | 4 | -79 | -83 | 13 | -6 | 738 | 0 | 156 | N/A | M | M | (681) |
1351 | 157 | 739 | 5/25/2016 | -12 | -72 | -60 | 1.5 | 4 | -79 | -83 | 16 | -7 | 739 | 0 | 157 | N/A | M | H | (682) |
1352 | 158 | 736 | 5/26/2016 | -6 | -73 | -67 | 1.675 | 4 | -78 | -82 | 10 | -5 | 741 | -5 | 158 | N/A | H | H | (683) |
1353 | 158 | 737 | 5/27/2016 | -6 | -76 | -70 | 1.75 | 12 | -75 | -87 | 18 | 1 | 741 | -4 | 158 | N/A | H | M | (684) |
1354 | 159 | 739 | 5/28/2016 | -5 | -75 | -70 | 1.75 | 3 | -78 | -81 | 8 | -3 | 740 | -1 | 159 | N/A | H | H | (685) |
1355 | 159 | 740 | 5/29/2016 | -11 | -75 | -64 | 1.6 | 4 | -78 | -82 | 15 | -3 | 738 | 2 | 159 | N/A | H | H | (686) |
1356 | 160 | 739 | 5/30/2016 | -5 | -74 | -69 | 1.725 | 3 | -77 | -80 | 8 | -3 | 739 | 0 | 160 | N/A | H | H | (687) |
1357 | 160 | 738 | 5/31/2016 | -16 | -72 | -56 | 1.4 | 3 | -79 | -82 | 19 | -7 | 741 | -3 | 160 | N/A | H | H | (688) |
1358 | 161 | 738 | 6/1/2016 | -16 | -74 | -58 | 1.45 | 2 | -78 | -80 | 18 | -4 | 742 | -4 | 161 | N/A | H | H | (689) |
1359 | 162 | 737 | 6/2/2016 | -13 | -76 | -63 | 1.575 | 2 | -76 | -78 | 15 | 0 | 741 | -4 | 161 | N/A | H | H | (690) |
1360 | 162 | 739 | 6/3/2016 | -16 | -76 | -60 | 1.5 | 2 | -76 | -78 | 18 | 0 | 741 | -2 | 162 | N/A | H | H | (691) |
1361 | 163 | 739 | 6/4/2016 | -16 | -76 | -60 | 1.5 | 1 | -77 | -78 | 17 | -1 | 742 | -3 | 162 | N/A | H | H | (692) |
1362 | 163 | 739 | 6/5/2016 | -17 | -74 | -57 | 1.425 | 2 | -77 | -79 | 19 | -3 | 741 | -2 | 163 | N/A | H | H | (693) |
1363 | 164 | 740 | 6/6/2016 | -14 | -75 | -60 | 1.5 | 3 | -77 | -80 | 17 | -2 | 740 | 0 | 164 | N/A | H | H | (694) |
1364 | 164 | 740 | 6/7/2016 | -16 | -74 | -58 | 1.45 | 2 | -76 | -78 | 18 | -4 | 741 | -1 | 164 | N/A | H | H | (695) |
1365 | 165 | 739 | 6/8/2016 | -15 | -74 | -59 | 1.475 | 3 | -75 | -78 | 18 | -1 | 743 | -4 | 165 | N/A | H | H | (696) |
1366 | 165 | 740 | 6/9/2016 | -15 | -75 | -60 | 1.5 | 4 | -75 | -79 | 19 | 0 | 743 | -3 | 165 | N/A | H | H | (697) |
1367 | 166 | 743 | 6/10/2016 | -14 | -74 | -60 | 1.5 | 2 | -76 | -78 | 16 | -2 | 743 | 0 | 166 | N/A | H | H | (698) |
1368 | 167 | 743 | 6/11/2016 | -16 | -74 | -58 | 1.45 | 4 | -75 | -79 | 20 | -1 | 744 | -1 | 166 | N/A | H | H | (699) |
1369 | 167 | 742 |
6/12/2016 | 1 | -73 | -74 | 1.85 |
3 | -76 | -79 | 2 | -3 | 745 | -3 | 167 | N/A | H | H | (700) Note: 17 degree increase in max air temp from previous sol. |
1370 | 168 | 744 | 6/13/2016 | -1 | -74 | -73 | 1.825 | 4 | -76 | -80 | 5 | -2 | 745 | -1 | 168 | N/A | H | H | (701) |
1371 | 168 | 746 | 6/14/2016 | -2 | -75 | -73 | 1.825 | 3 | -74 | -77 | 5 | 1 | 745 | 1 | 168 | N/A | H | H | (702) |
1372 | 169 | 744 | 6/15/2016 | -4 | -74 | -70 | 1.75 | 1 | -69 | -70 | 5 | 5 | 747 | -3 | 169 | N/A | H | H | (703) |
1373 | 169 | 746 | 6/16/2016 | -3 | -74 | -71 | 1.775 | 0 | -70 | -70 | 3 | 4 | 747 | -1 | 169 | N/A | H | H | (704) |
1374 | 170 | 748 | 6/17/2016 | -5 | -74 | -69 | 1.725 | 5 | -74 | -79 | 10 | 0 | 746 | 2 | 170 | N/A | H | H | (705) |
1375 | 170 | 749 | 6/18/2016 | -2 | -73 | -71 | 1.775 | 5 | 5 | -80 | 7 | -2 | 748 | 1 | 170 | N/A | H | H | (706) |
1376 | 171 | 749 | 6/19/2016 | 0 | -75 | -75 | 1.875 | 6 | -74 | -80 | 6 | 1 | 749 | 0 | 171 | N/A | H | H | (707) |
1377 | 172 | 749 | 6/20/2016 | 1 | -76 | -77 | 1.925 | 6 | -77 | -83 | 5 | -1 | 749 | 0 | 171 | N/A | H | H | (708) |
1378 | 172 | 751 | 6/21/2016 | 1 | -76 | -77 | 1.925 | 6 | -78 | -84 | 5 | -2 | 750 | 1 | 172 | N/A | H | H | (709) |
1379 | 173 | 751 | 6/23/2016 | -7 | -77 | -70 | 1.75 | 9 | -77 | -86 | 16 | 0 | 751 | 0 | 172 | N/A | H | H | (710) Odd that max air temp drops so much while max ground temp. climbs so high. |
1380 | 173 | 751 | 6/24/2016 | -7 | -74 | -67 | 1.675 | 10 | -77 | -87 | 17 | -3 | 751 | 0 | 173 | N/A | H | H | (711) |
1381 | 174 | 751 | 6/25/2016 | -8 | -73 | -65 | 1.625 | 10 | -78 | -88 | 18 | -5 | 752 | -1 | 173 | N/A | H | H | (712) |
1382 | 174 | 752 | 6/26/2016 | -4 | -76 | -72 | 1.8 | 11 | -77 | -88 | 15 | -1 | 754 | -2 | 174 | N/A | H | H | (713) |
1383 | 175 | 752 | 6/27/2016 | 3 | -73 | -76 | 1.9 | 10 | -76 | -86 | 7 | -3 | 754 | -2 | 175 | N/A | H | M | (714) |
1384 | 176 | 753 | 6/28/2016 | 2 | -74 | -76 | 1.9 | 7 | -74 | -81 | 5 | 0 | 755 | -2 | 175 | N/A | H | M | (715) |
1385 | 176 | 755 | 6/29/2016 | -3 | -75 | -72 | 1.9 | 10 | -74 | -84 | 13 | 1 | 755 | 0 | 176 | N/A | H | H | (716) |
1386 | 177 | 755 | 6/30/2016 | -1 | -74 | -73 | 1.825 | 10 | -77 | -87 | 11 | -3 | 756 | -1 | 176 | N/A | H | H | (717) |
1387 | 177 | 755 | 7/1/2016 | 2 | -74 | -76 | 1.9 | 17 | -79 | -96 | 19 | -5 | 757 | -2 | 177 | N/A | H | H | (718) |
1388 | 178 | 756 | 7/2/2016 | 4 | -73 | -77 | 1.925 | 18 | -81 | -99 | 14 | -8 | 758 | -2 | 178 | N/A | H | H | (719) |
1389 | 178 | N/A | 7/3/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 761 | N/A | 178 | N/A | N/A | H | (720) |
1390 | 179 | N/A | 7/4/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 761 | N/A | 179 | N/A | N/A | H | (721) |
1391 | 179 | N/A | 7/5/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 760 | N/A | 179 | N/A | N/A | H | (722) |
1392 | 180 | N/A | 7/6/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 761 | N/A | 180 | N/A | N/A | H | (723) FIRST DAY OF SPRING - NO DATA AVAILABLE AGAIN UNTIL SOL 1398 @ LS 184 |
Table 4B below - MSL weather data for Sols 1,393 to 1,404. The REMS Team published no data for MSL Year 3 Sols 1,393 through 1,397. Table 4B covers the early spring at MSL in the southern hemisphere.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T |
SOL | ~LS | PRESSURE Pa | EARTH DATE | MAX AIR TEMP °C | MIN AIR TEMP °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C/40 | MAX GROUND TEMP °C | MIN GROUND TEMP °C | ∆ GROUND TEMP DAY TO NIGHT | DAYTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | NIGHTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | PRESSURE AT SAME LS IN MSL YEAR 1 | ∆ PRESSURE YEAR 1 TO YEAR 2 SAME LS | ~LS year 1 | PRESSURE YEAR 1 BEFORE REVISION | UV YR 2 | UV YR 1 | COMMENTS |
1393 | 180 | N/A | 7/7/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 763 | N/A | 181 | N/A | N/A | H | (724) |
1394 | 181 | N/A | 7/8/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 764 | N/A | 181 | N/A | N/A | H | (725) |
1395 | 181 | N/A | 7/9/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 766 | N/A | 182 | N/A | N/A | H | (726) |
1396 | 182 | N/A | 7/10/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 766 | N/A | 182 | N/A | N/A | H | (727) |
1397 | 183 | N/A | 7/11/2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 766 | N/A | 183 | N/A | N/A | H | (728) |
1398 | 184 | 751 | 7/12/2016 | 3 | -66 | 69 | 1.725 | 19 | -62 | -81 | 16 | 4 | 770 | -19 | 184 | N/A | H | H | (730 - only 1 sol at Ls 184 in Year 2) Pressure seems too low. It was last 751 Pa on Sol 1381 at Ls 174. Temps too high. Will JPL alter the data? See Figure 1 |
1399 | 184 | 770 | 7/13/2016 | 1 | -73 | 74 | 1.85 | 11 | -74 | -85 | 10 | -1 | 770 | 0 | 184 | N/A | H | H | (730) JPL/REMS Team puts the pressure back on tje expected curve - see Figure 1 |
1400 | 185 | 770 | 7/14/2016 | 3 | -73 | 76 | 1.9 | 14 | -73 | -87 | 17 | 0 | 771 | -1 | 185 | N/A | H | H | (731) |
1401 | 185 | 770 | 7/15/2016 | -4 | -74 | 70 | 1.75 | 14 | -74 | -88 | 18 | 0 | 773 | -3 | 185 | N/A | H | H | (732) |
1402 | 186 | 771 | 7/16/2016 | -11 | -75 | 64 | 1.6 | 11 | -76 | -87 | 22 | -1 | 773 | -2 | 186 | N/A | H | H | (733) |
1403 | 187 | 775 | 7/17/2016 | -9 | -75 | 66 | 1.65 | 11 | -76 | -87 | 20 | -1 | 776 | -1 | 186 | N/A | VH | H | (734) This is the first Very High ultraviolet radiation since Sol 940 (463 sols earlier on March 29, 2015). |
1404 | 187 | 774 | 7/18/2016 | -10 | -75 | 65 | 1.625 | 11 | -78 | -89 | 21 | -3 | 776 | -2 | 187 | N/A | H | H | (735) |