  The Environmental Acoustic Reconnaissance and Sounding experiment (EARS), is
composed of two parts: the Environmental Acoustic Reconnaissance (EAR)
instrument and the Environmental Acoustic Sounding Experiment (EASE). They are
distinct, but have the common objective of characterizing the acoustic
environment of Mars. The principal goal of the EAR instrument is "listening" to
Mars. This could be a most significant experiment if one thinks of everyday
life experience where hearing is possibly the most important sense after sight.
Not only will this contribute to opening up this important area of planetary
exploration, which has been essentially ignored up until now, but will also
bring the general public closer in contact with our most proximate planet. EASE
is directed at characterizing acoustic propagation parameters, specifically
sound velocity and absorption, and will provide information regarding important
physical and chemical parameters of the lower Martian atmosphere; in
particular, water vapor content, specific heat capacity, heat conductivity and
shear viscosity, which will provide specific constraints in determining its
composition. This would enable one to gain a deeper understanding of Mars and
its analogues on Earth. Furthermore, the knowledge of the physical and chemical
parameters of the Martian atmosphere, which influence its circulation, will
improve the comprehension of its climate now and in the past, so as to gain
insight on the possibility of the past presence of life on Mars. These aspect
are considered strategic in the contest of its exploration, as is clearly
indicated in NASA's four main objectives on "Long Term Mars Exploration
Program" (http://marsweb.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/science).
