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Effect of the 2018 Martian Global Dust Storm on the CO 2 Density in the Lower Nightside Thermosphere Observed From MAVEN/IUVS Lyman‐Alpha Absorption
Author(s) -
Chaufray J.Y.,
Chaffin M.,
Deighan J.,
Jain S.,
Schneider N.,
Mayyasi M.,
Jakosky B.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2019gl082889
Subject(s) - thermosphere , martian , atmosphere of mars , mars exploration program , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere (unit) , dust storm , exosphere , altitude (triangle) , ionosphere , astrobiology , aeronomy , environmental science , atmospheric escape , storm , physics , astronomy , meteorology , ion , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
The MAVEN/Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument measures Lyman‐α emissions from interplanetary and Martian hydrogen at the limb and through the extended corona of Mars. In June 2018, a global dust storm (GDS) surrounded Mars for a few months, heating the lower atmosphere and leading to an expansion of the Martian atmosphere. Nightside IUVS observations before and throughout this GDS showed the altitude of CO 2 absorption of Lyman‐α photons in the thermosphere to increase by 4.5±1.0 km on 8 June 2018. This shift is attributed to an increase of the CO 2 density by a factor 1.9±0.2 at 110 km due to the heating of the lower atmosphere. These nightside observations, not previously used to study dust storms, in an altitude range not sampled by other instruments, are consistent with dayside MAVEN observations and allow for more comprehensive determination of the global changes produced by the GDS on the Martian thermosphere.