Research on the Detection Method of Martian Atmospheric Temperature and Pressure Profile Based on Laser Occultation Technology
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn this manuscript, the authors proposed the detection method for the Martian atmospheric temperature and pressure using laser occultation technology based on a network of high-orbit and low-orbit satellites around Mars, and conducts theoretical research and simulation analysis on this method. This is the first time that the laser occultation technology has been used to detect the atmospheric temperature and pressure of Mars, which in my opinion is of great innovative value. Nevertheless, the simulation verification of the paper lacks sufficient detail on certain points. Hence, substantial revisions are necessary prior to the article being considered for acceptance by the journal.
1. The authors should provide the overall design parameter requirements and process in detail before simulation. Firstly, clearly state the detection requirements. These requirements serve as the foundation for the entire design. Then, elaborate on how these detection requirements drive the parameter design. For example, the detection range, vertical resolution, measurement accuracy, etc. should be provided at the beginning of design and simulation. What system parameters are these detection requirements related to, and how can the system parameters be designed to meet such requirements?
2. In the simulation of this paper, only the variation of atmospheric parameters with altitude was considered, but there is no indication of what Martian atmospheric database was used to simulate the parameters of atmospheric elements in three - dimensional coordinates of different longitudes, latitudes and heights during path integration. There are also variations in parameters such as density, temperature, pressure, and composition of the atmosphere in the horizontal direction. This inhomogeneity means that the entire atmosphere cannot be simply described by a unified model or a single parameter. The complexity of its spatial variation needs to be considered, and more refined models and additional parameters should be adopted to accurately characterize the state of the atmosphere at different positions. The parameters of each atmospheric element along the integration path cannot be simply replaced by the situation at the tangent point of a certain layer.
3. In Section 4, the current discussion only involves noise and lacks detailed depictions of specific error sources. It would be of great value to conduct a in depth exploration of potential measurement error sources and their impact on the final measurement results. These could include misalignment of the satellite system, the stability of the laser source, and variations in environmental conditions.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper presents a detection method for the Martian atmosphere utilizing laser occultation technology based on a network of high-orbit and low-orbit satellites around Mars. This method has some research value, but there are still some factors that need to be considered and some issues that need to be clarified.
1. The authors should consider the effect of photon noise on the inversion;
2. line 416: it is difficult to see from Figure 14 alone that the inversion deviates from the true value;
3. line 417: the authors should analyze exactly which certain calculation errors are responsible for the bias, because in the absence of noise the inversions should perfectly agree with the true values (unless there is a systematic bias in the model);
4. The inversion results in the paper are based on the 1591.4755 nm band, but in reality the wavelength used by the laser transmitter/detector has a certain bandwidth rather than a precise wavelength at a certain point, so does it need to improve the inversion algorithm?
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript addresses a critical aspect of Mars exploration by proposing a novel method for detecting the vertical profiles of Martian atmospheric temperature and pressure using laser occultation technology. This research is particularly timely given the growing interest in Mars due to its unique geological and atmospheric conditions. The study not only enhances our understanding of the Martian atmosphere but also has significant implications for the design and execution of future Mars missions. The paper begins by introducing the measurement principle of Mars laser occultation, which involves analyzing the absorption spectrum characteristics of infrared carbon dioxide to determine atmospheric temperature and pressure. The authors then describe a detailed simulation process, including the development and validation of a radiation intensity calculation model for laser occultation signals and the retrieval method for atmospheric parameters. Additionally, the paper outlines the design of a set of satellite payload parameters. The simulation results are impressive, demonstrating that the proposed method can accurately measure temperature and pressure at a vertical resolution of 100 meters from 5 km to 50 km altitude in the Martian atmosphere, with deviations of 0.43 K and 1.06%, respectively. These findings suggest that the laser occultation method can effectively detect temperature and pressure profiles, offering a promising approach for high-vertical-resolution atmospheric profiling on Mars.
There are some suggestions as follows:
1.The introduction parts could benefit from a more detailed background on the current state of Martian atmospheric profiling and the limitations of existing methods. This would help contextualize the significance of the proposed laser occultation technique.
2. This paper provides a good overview of the measurement principle and simulation process, more detailed explanations of the specific algorithms and models used would enhance the technical depth. For example, a step-by-step breakdown of the radiation intensity calculation model and the retrieval method would be beneficial.
3. The validation and analysis of this paper need to describe in detail. The validation process should be described in more detail, including the criteria used to assess the accuracy and reliability of the simulation results. Information on how the model was tested under various atmospheric conditions would strengthen the paper. A comparative analysis with other existing methods for Martian atmospheric profiling would provide a broader perspective on the advantages and limitations of the laser occultation technique. This could include a discussion of how the proposed method compares in terms of accuracy, resolution, and practical feasibility.
4. The captions of figures 4, 6, 7, and 8, are quite brief. Adding more detailed descriptions to these captions would help readers better understand the visual data presented.
Overall, the paper presents a well-structured and innovative approach to Martian atmospheric profiling using laser occultation technology. The detailed simulation results and the high vertical resolution achieved are significant contributions to the field. I recommend acceptance after minor revisions.
Comments on the Quality of English Language5. The manuscript would benefit from a thorough review and polish by a native English-speaking expert. This would help refine the language and improve the overall readability of the paper.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe author has provided a very comprehensive response to my comments and made corresponding revisions to the paper accordingly. After evaluation, the paper has met the publication criteria and can be accepted and scheduled for publication.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have revised the manuscript based on the comments.
