Mars Exploration News  
MARSDAILY
Lower atmospheric processes are crucial to understanding Martian water loss
by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) Dec 10, 2021

File image by MAVEN of rapid cloud formation in the Martian atmosphere.

Lower atmospheric processes, such as convection, dust storms and gravity waves, are vital to understanding how Mars lost its water, writes Erdal Yigit in a Perspective. It's widely thought that most of Mars' water was slowly lost to space as hydrogen over several billion years.

According to standard models, water molecules, broken apart by sunlight in the lower Martian atmosphere, form free hydrogen, which further dissipates into the upper atmosphere and floats off into space. But many details concerning this atmospheric hydrogen escape remain uncertain.

Recent in situ observations have revealed that water can be transported directly into the upper atmosphere and converted into hydrogen by atmospheric ions. However, in these assessments, the role of lower atmospheric weather and variability produced by atmospheric gravity waves in this process are insufficiently explored.

Yigit argues that the processes that led to the loss of water on Mars are complex and require a whole-atmosphere perspective to understand. Here, the author describes how lower atmospheric processes influence the loss of Martian water to space, particularly the important mechanism of vertical coupling, or upward-propagating lower atmospheric gravity waves, which can potentially drive water transport to the thermosphere through wave-induced fluctuations of temperature in density.

"Future coincident coordinated observations are required to constrain models and wave activity, and to help characterize the whole-atmosphere distribution of water and its constituents," writes Yigit. "Using several current observational capabilities such as ExoMars TGO, MAVEN, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in complimentary ways may help accomplish this lofty goal."

Research Report: Martian water escape and internal waves


Related Links
George Mason University
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


MARSDAILY
Brief presence of water in Arabia Terra on Mars
Flagstaff AZ (SPX) Dec 02, 2021
NAU PhD candidate Ari Koeppel, as part of a team of scientists from Northern Arizona and Johns Hopkins Universities, recently discovered that water was once present in a unique but brief manner in a region of Mars called Arabia Terra. Arabia Terra is in the northern latitudes of Mars. Named in 1879 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli, this ancient land covers an area slightly larger than the European continent. Arabia Terra contains craters, volcanic calderas, canyons, and beautiful bands ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

MARSDAILY
Spelunking on the moon: New study explores lunar pits and caves

Mirror, mirror, on the Moon

Chinese Yutu-2 rover embarks on weeks-long 80-metre journey to reach Moon Cube

China's lunar rover spots cube-like object on Moon, sparking curiosity

MARSDAILY
On they march as China records 401st flight of Long March rocket family

China's Long March carrier rocket embarks on 400th mission

First crew of space station provide a full update on China's progress

Milestone mission for China's first commercial rocket company

MARSDAILY
NASA's 'Eyes on Asteroids' Reveals Our Near-Earth Object Neighborhood

Dinosaurs' last spring: Study pinpoints timing of Chicxulub asteroid impact

Tiny meteors leave smoke in the atmosphere

NASA Goddard helps ensure asteroid deflector hits target

MARSDAILY
Planet decision that booted out Pluto is rooted in folklore, astrology

Are Water Plumes Spraying from Europa

Science results offer first 3D view of Jupiter's atmosphere

Juno peers deep into Jupiter's colorful belts and zones

MARSDAILY
San Andreas Fault-like tectonics discovered on Saturn moon Titan

MARSDAILY
NASA to launch 4 Earth Science Missions in 2022

Solely European supply chain for space-qualified Alexandrite laser crystals on the horizon

MDA announces Chorus as new commercial EO mission

NCAR's mini-satellite to measure howling winds high in atmosphere

MARSDAILY
Space Habitat Market size to grow by USD 94.92 Bn

NASA selects second private astronaut mission to Space Station

Father's foundry job inspires Dr. Sharon Cobb to pursue NASA career path

Bezos' Blue Origin completes third crewed space flight

MARSDAILY
Stellar "ashfall" could help distant planets grow

Life arose on hydrogen energy

"Newer, nimbler, faster:" Venus probe will search for signs of life in clouds of sulfuric acid

ESO telescope images planet around most massive star pair to date









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.