Science Daily·4 min read·medium
Giant waves are sweeping Mars’ atmosphere into space
✦AI Summary
Researchers using data from MAVEN and Tianwen-1 missions have identified Kelvin-Helmholtz waves as a primary cause of atmospheric loss on Mars. These waves, triggered by solar wind, stir the upper atmosphere and pull plasma into space.
The Sun continuously sends a fast stream of charged particles through space, a phenomenon known as the solar wind. Earth is largely protected from this flow by its global magnetic field, but Mars has no comparable shield. This leaves the planet's upper atmosphere exposed, allowing the solar wind to knock atmospheric particles away and carry them into space.
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