“We compared our results to SPICAM data and found good agreement – except during the dusty season, when our model underestimated just how much hydrogen was present,” says Jean-Yves. “Thanks to Mars Express’ continuous monitoring, we were able to analyse the last two global dust storms, in 20, and compare what we found to storm-free years to identify how the storms affected water escape from Mars.” This finding is supported by research led by Jean-Yves, which modelled the density of hydrogen atoms in Mars’ upper atmosphere over two years and explored how this related to water escape. “This confirms that dust storms, which are known to warm and disrupt Mars’ atmosphere, also deliver water to high altitudes,” says Anna. In years when Mars experienced a global dust storm the upper atmosphere became even wetter, accumulating water in excess at altitudes of over 80 km. “Then, the upper atmosphere becomes moistened and saturated with water, explaining why water escape rates speed up during this season – water is carried higher, aiding its escape to space,” adds Anna. Near the Sun, the warmer temperatures and more intensive circulation in the atmosphere prevented water from freezing out at a certain altitude.
#Floran facerig full#
Across a full orbit, the distance between the Sun and the Red Planet ranges from 207 million to 249 million km. “We studied the water vapour in the atmosphere from the ground up to 100 km in altitude, a region that had yet to be explored, over eight martian years.” Anna and colleagues found that water vapour remained confined to below 60 km when Mars was far from the Sun but extended up to 90 km in altitude when Mars was closest to the Sun. “The atmosphere is the link between surface and space, and so has much to tell us about how Mars has lost its water,” says Anna. Both studies used extensive, multi-year datasets obtained by the orbiter’s SPICAM instrument (Spectroscopy for the Investigation of the Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars). They reveal that this process is affected by the planet’s distance from the Sun and changes in its climate and weather, including the massive global dust storms often seen on the planet. Two new studies, led by Anna Fedorova of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Jean-Yves Chaufray of the Laboratoire Atmospheres Observations Spatiales, France, now clarify how water moves through and leaves Mars’ atmosphere. Mars has lost much of its former water to space over the past few billion years, and is still leaking water from its atmosphere today. Water can now only exist on Mars in the form of ice or gas due to the low atmospheric pressure on the planet, which is less than 1% that of Earth. Evidence of this is seen in images of vast, flood-formed outflow channels, river valleys and deltas carved into the planet’s surface, as well as in radar observations of liquid water reservoirs locked up beneath the ice and dust of Mars’ south pole. Although arid today, Mars was likely once a water-covered world like our own. ESA’s Mars Express now reveals more about where this water has gone, showing that its escape to space is accelerated by dust storms and the planet’s proximity to the Sun, and suggesting that some water may have retreated underground. Permanent tag list: water loss shaped by seasons and storms Mars has lost most of its once plentiful water, with small amounts remaining in the planet’s atmosphere. Moving so he is on his back, he places the pillow beneath his head before looking over to you and opening his arms to you, inviting you to lay with him.
He quickly reaches behind him and grabs a blanket from the couch along with one of the throw pillows. You look over and see Din just shake his head a little, taking your bowl from your hand and sitting it with his off to the side. When you both are done, you move to stand and start cleaning up, but a gentle hand on your wrist stops you. You smile as you both eat in a comfortable silence, the only sound being your spoons against the ceramic bowls and the crackling of the fireplace. He takes a seat in front of the blazing hearth and motions for you to sit down next to him, handing you your dinner when you did.
You look at him questioningly but follow him nonetheless. Permanent Taglist: intend to eat at the table as you both usually do, but when Din comes out into the large living area that connects to the small kitchen, he stops you, taking the two bowls in hand and walking over to the floor in front of the fireplace instead.