Abstract
The martian upper atmosphere could be strongly perturbed by the near collision with Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring). Significant mass and energy will be deposited in the upper atmosphere of Mars if the comet coma is sufficiently dense. We predict that comet H2O production rates larger than 1028 molecules/s would produce temperature increases exceeding 30K and the H density in the upper atmosphere will approximately double. The temperature perturbation will persist for several hours and the increased H density for tens of hours. Drag on orbiting spacecraft may increase by substantial factors, depending upon comet activity, because of the thermal perturbation to the atmosphere. Observation of these perturbations may provide insight into the thermal and chemical balances of the atmosphere.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 202-210 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Icarus |
| Volume | 237 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 15 2014 |
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Keywords
- Atmospheres, structure
- Comets
- Mars
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Space and Planetary Science
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cite this
Perturbation of the Mars atmosphere by the near-collision with Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring). / Yelle, Roger; Mahieux, A.; Morrison, S.; Vuitton, V.; Hörst, S. M.
In: Icarus, Vol. 237, 15.07.2014, p. 202-210.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Perturbation of the Mars atmosphere by the near-collision with Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)
AU - Yelle, Roger
AU - Mahieux, A.
AU - Morrison, S.
AU - Vuitton, V.
AU - Hörst, S. M.
PY - 2014/7/15
Y1 - 2014/7/15
N2 - The martian upper atmosphere could be strongly perturbed by the near collision with Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring). Significant mass and energy will be deposited in the upper atmosphere of Mars if the comet coma is sufficiently dense. We predict that comet H2O production rates larger than 1028 molecules/s would produce temperature increases exceeding 30K and the H density in the upper atmosphere will approximately double. The temperature perturbation will persist for several hours and the increased H density for tens of hours. Drag on orbiting spacecraft may increase by substantial factors, depending upon comet activity, because of the thermal perturbation to the atmosphere. Observation of these perturbations may provide insight into the thermal and chemical balances of the atmosphere.
AB - The martian upper atmosphere could be strongly perturbed by the near collision with Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring). Significant mass and energy will be deposited in the upper atmosphere of Mars if the comet coma is sufficiently dense. We predict that comet H2O production rates larger than 1028 molecules/s would produce temperature increases exceeding 30K and the H density in the upper atmosphere will approximately double. The temperature perturbation will persist for several hours and the increased H density for tens of hours. Drag on orbiting spacecraft may increase by substantial factors, depending upon comet activity, because of the thermal perturbation to the atmosphere. Observation of these perturbations may provide insight into the thermal and chemical balances of the atmosphere.
KW - Atmospheres, structure
KW - Comets
KW - Mars
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84900792053&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84900792053&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.03.030
DO - 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.03.030
M3 - Article
VL - 237
SP - 202
EP - 210
JO - Icarus
JF - Icarus
SN - 0019-1035
ER -