Comparative Dynamics and Aeronomy of the Atmospheres of Earth and Mars

Physics

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

This lecture provides a broad overview of the interaction of the Sun's energy with the atmospheres of Earth and Mars. Differences and similarities in the planetary responses are affected by their radii, intrinsic magnetic fields, rotation rates, gravitational accelerations, topography, surface pressures and compositions. As one example, the absence of a large intrinsic magnetic field on Mars eliminates thermosphere-ionosphere variability due to electric fields, particle precipitation and Joule heating, and chemical conversions due to energetic particle interactions - prominent solar linkages at Earth. In addition, penetration of the interplanetary magnetic field into Mars' ionosphere can scavenge ions, and over time, influence evolution of the atmospheric composition. At solar minimum, Earth's mesosphere/lower thermosphere (ca. 80-120 km) mimick's the aerobraking regime of Mars, being primarily controlled by EUV absorption, radiative cooling, and atmospheric tides generated at lower altitudes. The interaction of solar radiation with zonally-asymmetric surface properties generates different spectra of nonmigrating tides on the two planets that propagate upward and significantly modify thermosphere and ionosphere structures and circulation. The counterpart of the solar semidiurnal tide due to solar radiation absorption by ozone on Earth, is the semidiurnal tide radiatively excited in the lower atmosphere of Mars during dusty conditions. New simulations of the latter phenomenon are presented, demonstrating the turbulence and zonal mean meridional circulation generated by the saturated and dissipating tide that extend well into the thermosphere. It is suggested that the deep global mixing induced by this mechanism may have affected the evolution of Mars' atmospheric composition, including water.

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