Studying the upper atmosphere of Mars
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The upper atmosphere of Mars is currently being explored in unprecedented detail by two spacecraft simultaneously, Nasa's MAVEN mission and ESA's Mars Express mission. Both reveal a thin atmosphere composed primarily of CO2 and O, followed by nitrogen and other carbon based species. Furthermore, the Sun's radiation as well as energetic plasma from the plasma surrounding of Mars cause ionisation of the upper atmosphere, forming an ionosphere.
The PhD project will consist in a mixture of analysis of data from the MAVEN and Mars Express spacecraft as well as numerical simulations. The aim of the work is to understand the global structure (densities, temperatures) as well as periodicities (atmospheric waves) and seasonal, orbital as well as short term variability. Numerous atmosphere models have been developed for other planets, and the task of the PhD student would be to apply these to the Martian environment. Results for Mars will be compared and contrasted with Venus, Earth and Titan to gain a deeper understanding of what drives the boundary layer on Mars between atmosphere and space environment. Another potential topic for investigation is that of atmospheric escape, addressing the question of how and why Mars lost most of its atmosphere.
The PhD project will consist in a mixture of analysis of data from the MAVEN and Mars Express spacecraft as well as numerical simulations. The aim of the work is to understand the global structure (densities, temperatures) as well as periodicities (atmospheric waves) and seasonal, orbital as well as short term variability. Numerous atmosphere models have been developed for other planets, and the task of the PhD student would be to apply these to the Martian environment. Results for Mars will be compared and contrasted with Venus, Earth and Titan to gain a deeper understanding of what drives the boundary layer on Mars between atmosphere and space environment. Another potential topic for investigation is that of atmospheric escape, addressing the question of how and why Mars lost most of its atmosphere.
People |
ORCID iD |
Ingo Mueller-Wodarg (Primary Supervisor) | |
Alexander SIDDLE (Student) |
Publications
Siddle A.
(2017)
Characterising gravity waves in the Martian thermosphere using MAVEN accelerometer data
in European Planetary Science Congress
Siddle Alex
(2018)
Global characteristics of gravity waves in the upper atmosphere of Mars as measured by MAVEN/NGIMS
in European Planetary Science Congress
Siddle A
(2019)
Global characteristics of gravity waves in the upper atmosphere of Mars as measured by MAVEN/NGIMS
in Icarus
Siddle Alex
(2019)
Thermosphere structure and variability as inferred from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter aerobraking campaign and in-situ MAVEN NGIMS observations
in EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ST/N504336/1 | 30/09/2015 | 30/03/2021 | |||
1811182 | Studentship | ST/N504336/1 | 30/09/2016 | 30/03/2020 | Alexander SIDDLE |
Description | EPSC 2018 Early Career Researcher (ECR) Bursary |
Amount | € 450 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | Research Student Conference Fund |
Amount | £300 (GBP) |
Organisation | Institute of Physics (IOP) |
Sector | Learned Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | MAVEN/NGIMS Analysis |
Organisation | University of Arizona |
Department | Lunar and Planetary Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We interpreted the data provided by our collaborators |
Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators work closely with instrument teams for NASA's MAVEN mission. They gave access to the data. |
Impact | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2019.05.021 |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Trace Gas Orbiter Accelerometer Analysis |
Organisation | National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We interpreted the data derived for us by our collaborators |
Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators derived usable data from spacecraft measurements at Mars. They also helped with the interpretation of results. |
Impact | Thermosphere structure and variability as inferred from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter aerobraking campaign and in-situ MAVEN NGIMS observations |
Start Year | 2019 |