In the present work, we analysed different types of clouds observed at the limb as well as over the surface of the red planet, captured by MCC onboard the Indian Mars Orbiter Mission during orbit number 44,45,48,49, 50,51,179,187,190,191,466 and 474. The estimated height of the high-altitude cloud (HAC) varies from 40 to 76 km and horizontal spreading of 400 to 1100 km. We used ARC-GIS to detect the area over which the high-altitude clouds are observed. These detached layers of clouds are followed by a haze of dust and water-ice particles. MRO-MCS and MARCI confirm a few dust events during the appearance of the high-altitude cloud. The estimated wavelength of the Lee wave cloud varies from 38 to 44 km while wind speed varies from 54 to 64 m/sec. Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) as a function of altitude varies from 0.6 to 2.4 for the red channel and 0.8 to 1.8 for the blue channel with an effective radius of 0.2 to 3.0 μm for the aerosol. We consulted the Global Circulation Model (GCM) as well as MOLA-DEM to frame the AOD output. Estimated wind speed profile from MCC and MARCI-MGDM suggested the circulation of strong wind across the globe and delivered input to the formation of clouds through different processes related to the atmosphere dynamics viz. Deep Convection, Orographic lift, Thermal updraft, etc. In our present study, we tried to estimate the parameter related to these processes and tried to correlate them with the observed events.

We report the first observation of the largest Martian lee wave and its atmospheric characteristics over Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC). We analyze the wavelength, the cloud’s height, and wind speed from the lee wave structure. The estimated wind speed is 86±4.9 m/s, with a wavelength of 60± 0.3 km at the height of 55±7 km. This is the largest lee wave structure that appears during dust storm season (Ls=230 to Ls=300) and strongly contributes to the planet’s Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) level. Estimated AOD varies from 1.7 (Red channel) to 2.5 (Blue channel), and indicates the maximum contribution from the water ice crystal. The estimated angstrom exponent (α) value signifies coarse mode particle presence in the cloud with an effective radius of 3.2μm. The presence of water ice crystal contributes to the albedo level’s increment to 0.8 and signifies the formation temperature for AMEC to be around 190 K.