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Solar Cycle and Seasonal Variability of the Martian Thermosphere-Ionosphere and Associated Impacts upon Atmospheric Escape

Journal Article
2009-01-2396
ISSN: 1946-3855, e-ISSN: 1946-3901
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2396
Published July 12, 2009 by SAE International in United States
Solar Cycle and Seasonal Variability of the Martian Thermosphere-Ionosphere and Associated Impacts upon Atmospheric Escape
Sector:
Citation: Bougher, S., Valeille, A., Combi, M., and Tenishev, V., "Solar Cycle and Seasonal Variability of the Martian Thermosphere-Ionosphere and Associated Impacts upon Atmospheric Escape," SAE Int. J. Aerosp. 4(1):227-237, 2011, https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2396.
Language: English

Abstract:

A growing body of evidence supports an ancient Mars having a milder, wetter climate, suggesting that its atmosphere was once more substantial than it is today. The fate of the lost atmosphere and water is a major unanswered question. Is the “lost” water sequestered in the crust at all latitudes, or did much of it escape to space? While available measurements and theoretical studies suggest that a number of atmospheric escape processes are at work today, little is known about their efficacy, including temporal variations driven by the solar cycle and Mars seasons. Selected 3-D simulations are presented and illustrate the coupling between the thermosphere-ionosphere system and the exosphere leading to predictions of the oxygen corona and hot oxygen escape (a major component of atmospheric loss for present day Mars).