TY - JOUR
T1 - Metallic ions in the upper atmosphere of Mars from the passage of comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)
AU - Benna, M.
AU - Mahaffy, P. R.
AU - Grebowsky, J. M.
AU - Plane, J. M.C.
AU - Yelle, R. V.
AU - Jakosky, B. M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
PY - 2015/6/28
Y1 - 2015/6/28
N2 - We report the first in situ detection of metal ions in the upper atmosphere of Mars resulting from the ablation of dust particles from comet Siding Spring. This detection was carried out by the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer on board the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission. Metal ions of Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn, and possibly of Si, and Ca, were identified in the ion spectra collected at altitudes of ∼185 km. The measurements revealed that Na+ was the most abundant species, and that the remaining metals were depleted with respect to the CI (type 1 carbonaceous Chondrites) abundance of Na+. The temporal profile and abundance ratios of these metal ions suggest that the combined effects of dust composition, partial ablation, differential upward transport, and differences in the rates of formation and removal of these metal ions are responsible for the observed depletion.
AB - We report the first in situ detection of metal ions in the upper atmosphere of Mars resulting from the ablation of dust particles from comet Siding Spring. This detection was carried out by the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer on board the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission. Metal ions of Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn, and possibly of Si, and Ca, were identified in the ion spectra collected at altitudes of ∼185 km. The measurements revealed that Na+ was the most abundant species, and that the remaining metals were depleted with respect to the CI (type 1 carbonaceous Chondrites) abundance of Na+. The temporal profile and abundance ratios of these metal ions suggest that the combined effects of dust composition, partial ablation, differential upward transport, and differences in the rates of formation and removal of these metal ions are responsible for the observed depletion.
KW - Comet Siding Spring
KW - Mars
KW - atmosphere
KW - metal ion
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U2 - 10.1002/2015GL064159
DO - 10.1002/2015GL064159
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84945228940
SN - 0094-8276
VL - 42
SP - 4670
EP - 4675
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
IS - 12
ER -