Published in

American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science, 6261(350), 2015

DOI: 10.1126/science.aad0210

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MAVEN observations of the response of Mars to an interplanetary coronal mass ejection

Journal article published in 2015 by David F. Mitchell, William Mcclintock, Bruce M. Jakosky, Joseph M. Grebowsky, Janet G. Luhmann, J. Connerney, F. Eparvier, Robert Ergun, Jasper Halekas ORCID, Davin Larson, D. L. Mitchell, Paul Mahaffy, Nick Schneider, Richard Zurek, Jim McFadden and other authors.
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Coupling between the lower and upper atmosphere, combined with loss of gas from the upper atmosphere to space, likely contributed to the thin, cold, dry atmosphere of modern Mars. To help understand ongoing ion loss to space, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft made comprehensive measurements of the Mars upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the Sun and solar wind during an interplanetary coronal mass ejection impact in March 2015. Responses include changes in the bow shock and magnetosheath, formation of widespread diffuse aurora, and enhancement of pick-up ions. Observations and models both show an enhancement in escape rate of ions to space during the event. Ion loss during solar events early in Mars history may have been a major contributor to the long-term evolution of the Mars atmosphere.