Scientists are learning about forces affecting Mars atmosphere now that could provide clues to the planet’s history.
Mars’ upper atmosphere is constantly eroded by solar winds. Scientists made that conclusion by analyzing data from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft that has been orbiting the planet for the past year.
University of Arizona planetary scientist Roger Yelle is a co-investigator on MAVEN who studies planetary atmospheres.
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“The main focus is understanding how the upper atmosphere works," said Yelle.
Massive solar storms that occurred as the solar system was forming, coupled with the loss of its magnetic field depleted Mars’ gassy atmosphere billions of years ago, scientists say. NASA experts discussed their findings Thursday.
Understanding atmospheric processes can help scientists determine what happened to the water that is known to have been on Mars surface.