Journal article
First direct observations of atmospheric sputtering at Mars
Science advances, Vol.11(22), eadt1538
05/30/2025
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adt1538
PMCID: PMC12118633
PMID: 40435265
Abstract
Billions of years ago, Mars’ ability to sustain liquid water waned as the solar wind and radiation began to erode the atmosphere. Sputtering is an atmospheric escape process that may have been dominant during earlier epochs of our Sun according to isotopic evidence, but is difficult to detect under current solar conditions. Using over 9 years of data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, we present the first observations of present-day sputtering in the martian upper atmosphere. By correlating argon densities with solar electric fields, we find that sputtered rates of argon are over four times higher than model predictions. We also present evidence of enhanced sputtering during a solar storm, offering a glimpse at more intense conditions in the early solar system. Observationally establishing the role of sputtering in the loss of Mars’ atmosphere is critical to understanding the conditions that allowed liquid water to exist on the martian surface and the implications for habitability.
Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) made the first direct observations of atmospheric sputtering in Mars’ atmosphere.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- First direct observations of atmospheric sputtering at Mars
- Creators
- Shannon M. Curry - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsTakuya Hara - University of California, BerkeleyJanet G. Luhmann - University of California, BerkeleyFrancois Leblanc - Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueRebecca Jolitz - University of California, BerkeleyDavid Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyRonan Modolo - Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueDavid A. Brain - University of Colorado BoulderJared Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterMehdi Benna - Goddard Space Flight CenterJasper Halekas - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Science advances, Vol.11(22), eadt1538
- DOI
- 10.1126/sciadv.adt1538
- PMID
- 40435265
- PMCID
- PMC12118633
- NLM abbreviation
- Sci Adv
- ISSN
- 2375-2548
- eISSN
- 2375-2548
- Publisher
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Grant note
- NNH10CC04C / ; 80NSSC17K0730 / ;
- Alternative title
- First detection of atmospheric sputtering at Mars
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/30/2025
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984825525402771
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