On the evening time exosphere of Mars: Result from MENCA aboard Mars Orbiter Mission

Bhardwaj, Anil; Thampi, Smitha V.; Das, Tirtha Pratim; Dhanya, M. B.; Naik, Neha; Vajja, Dinakar Prasad; Pradeepkumar, P.; Sreelatha, P.; Supriya, Gogulapati; Abhishek, J. K.; Mohankumar, S. V.; Thampi, R. Satheesh; Yadav, Vipin K.; Sundar, B.; Nandi, Amarnath; Padmanabhan, G. Padma; Aliyas, A. V.

doi:10.1002/2016gl067707

Cited by 27 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…During this time period, the spacecraft reached altitudes down to about 260 km at periapsis. Bhardwaj et al () estimate atmospheric scale heights of MENCAmeasurements in the m / z = 44, 28, and 16 channels to derive exospheric temperatures at local times between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and L s between 255 and 262 ∘ (near perihelion). Bhardwaj et al () observe a temperature range of 243–287 K, with a mean of 271 ± 5 K, over the three channels and all four orbits.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bhardwaj et al () estimate atmospheric scale heights of MENCAmeasurements in the m / z = 44, 28, and 16 channels to derive exospheric temperatures at local times between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and L s between 255 and 262 ∘ (near perihelion). Bhardwaj et al () observe a temperature range of 243–287 K, with a mean of 271 ± 5 K, over the three channels and all four orbits. This mean temperature is warmer than the T iso of 232 ± 10 K we calculate for DD1, which was executed at a local time of 6 p.m. at L s =291 ∘ .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Indian Space Research Organisation Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM; see Arunan & Satish, ) arrived at Mars subsequent to MAVEN, and the Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer (MENCA; see Bhardwaj et al, ) quadrupole mass spectrometer on board MOM has collected in situ measurements of the Martian exosphere. Bhardwaj et al () derived exospheric temperatures from MENCA measurements. NGIMS measurements analyzed here, obtained over 4,231 MAVEN orbits and covering more than a Mars year, significantly extend the coverage of the Martian upper atmosphere in terms of local time, latitude, season, and altitude.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Thermal Structure of the Martian Upper Atmosphere From MAVEN NGIMS

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) aboard the NASA Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission measures the structure and variability of the Martian upper atmosphere. We use NGIMS density profiles to derive upper atmospheric temperature profiles and investigate the thermal structure of this region. The thermal structure of the upper atmosphere is a critical component of understanding atmospheric loss to space, the main science objective of MAVEN, and measured temperatures serve as inputs to and constraints on photochemical and global circulation models. We describe proper treatment of the NGIMS data and correct for the horizontal motion of the spacecraft. Temperature profiles from week-long, low-altitude excursions executed by MAVEN, called Deep Dips, are used to investigate the diurnal variation of the temperature and the thermospheric gradient, which varies between 1.33 ± 0.16 and 2.69 ± 0.33 K km −1 on the dayside. NGIMS measurements acquired on nominal MAVEN orbits over more than a Martian year further elucidate the diurnal and latitudinal variations of the temperature. Diurnal variations of about a factor of 2, from 127 ± 8 to 260 ± 7 K, are observed high in the exosphere, and latitudinal variations of 39 ± 17 K are observed in this region. Comparisons indicate broad agreement between temperatures derived from MAVEN NGIMS with previous in situ and remote sensing observations of upper atmospheric temperatures. NGIMS temperatures are also shown to be consistent with predictions of a 1-D model which includes solar UV and near IR heating, thermal conduction, and radiative cooling in the CO 2 2 15-μm band.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Thermal Structure of the Martian Upper Atmosphere From MAVEN NGIMS

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The probe arrived in Mars on 24 September 2014 into an highly eccentric orbit of 422 km x 76,993 km with an orbital period of ≈ 67 hours. Later manoeuvres during December 2014 brought down the periareion altitude to around 262 km (Bhardwaj et al, 2016). One of the payloads of MOM is MENCA for the measurement of total atmospheric pressure and partial pressures of various atmospheric constituents covering 1-300 amu (Bhardwaj et al, 2015).…”

Section: Observation and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of Exospheric Neutral Composition of Mars observed from Indian Mars Orbiter Mission

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The raw exospheric composition data of Mars for the period September 2014 to October 2015 has been retrieved and analysed using the observations carried out by Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA) payload on-board the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) launched by India on 5 November 2013. The state parameters viz. latitude, longitude, altitude and solar zenith angle coverage of the partial pressures of different exospheric constituents are determined and assigned to enrich the usefulness of data with orbit-wise assimilation particularly between 250 and 500 km altitude range of main interest. Apart from getting the results on mean individual orbits' partial pressure profiles during the northern winter, the variations of total as well as partial pressures are also studied with respect to the distribution of major atmospheric constituents and their dependence on solar activity. In particular, CO 2 and O variations are considered together for any differential effects due to photo-dissociation and photo-ionisation. The results on gradual reduction in densities due to the decreasing daily mean sunspot numbers and strong response of CO 2 and O pressures to solar energetic particle events like that of 24 December 2014 following a solar flare were discussed in this paper.

show abstract

“…Above, CO and O are in diffusive equilibrium and become locally abundant. O takes over as the main atmospheric gas for altitudes larger than !200 km, near the exobase (Bougher et al 2015a, b;Bhardwaj et al 2016).…”

Section: Marsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Upper Atmospheres and Ionospheres of Planets and Satellites

Muñoz¹,

Koskinen²,

Lavvas³

2017

Handbook of Exoplanets

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The upper atmospheres of the planets and their satellites are more directly exposed to sunlight and solar-wind particles than the surface or the deeper atmospheric layers. At the altitudes where the associated energy is deposited, the atmospheres may become ionized and are referred to as ionospheres. The details of the photon and particle interactions with the upper atmosphere depend strongly on whether the object has an intrinsic magnetic field that may channel the precipitating particles into the atmosphere or drive the atmospheric gas out to space. Important implications of these interactions include atmospheric loss over diverse timescales, photochemistry, and the formation of aerosols, which affect the evolution, composition, and remote sensing of the planets (satellites). The upper atmosphere connects the planet (satellite) bulk composition to the nearplanet (-satellite) environment. Understanding the relevant physics and chemistry provides insight to the past and future conditions of these objects, which is critical for understanding their evolution. This chapter introduces the basic concepts of upper atmospheres and ionospheres in our solar system and discusses aspects of their neutral and ion composition, wind dynamics, and energy budget. This knowledge is key to putting in context the observations of upper atmospheres and haze on exoplanets and to devise a theory that explains exoplanet demographics. A. García Muñoz (!)

show abstract

On the evening time exosphere of Mars: Result from MENCA aboard Mars Orbiter Mission

Cited by 27 publications

References 18 publications

Thermal Structure of the Martian Upper Atmosphere From MAVEN NGIMS

Thermal Structure of the Martian Upper Atmosphere From MAVEN NGIMS

Study of Exospheric Neutral Composition of Mars observed from Indian Mars Orbiter Mission

Upper Atmospheres and Ionospheres of Planets and Satellites

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About