Global circulation of Mars' upper atmosphere

Abstract

The thermosphere of Mars is the interface through which the planet is continuously losing its reservoir of atmospheric volatiles to space. The structure and dynamics of the thermosphere is driven by a global circulation that redistributes the incident energy from the Sun. We report mapping of the global circulation in the thermosphere of Mars with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft. The measured neutral winds reveal circulation patterns simpler than those of Earth that persist over changing seasons. The winds exhibit pronounced correlation with the underlying topography owing to orographic gravity waves.