IISER Kolkata scientists simulate Mars on the computer, suggest how it lost its atmosphere

IISER Kolkata scientists simulate Mars on the computer, suggest how it lost its atmosphere
Updated:
Updated:
The researchers model a Mars-like planet interacting with plasma wind from a Sun-like star
Share Article
AAA
Protective shroud: The magnetosphere enveloped Mars, shielding its atmosphere from erosion by solar wind.
  | Photo Credit:
Martin Holverda
The researchers model a Mars-like planet interacting with plasma wind from a Sun-like star
A new and exciting field in astronomy to study exoplanets and gauge whether they possess conditions that will favour the presence and sustainability of life. In this quest, an important part is looking at our own celestial backyard to gain insights – hence the many missions to Mars and Venus probing for signs of past life. One thing that astronomers search for in exoplanets, in the so-called Goldilocks zone of habitability, is the existence of liquid water and an atmosphere like that on Earth. In this context it is believed by many that Mars once had such an atmosphere. The mechanism as to why it lost its atmosphere has remained in doubt. Scientists from Indian Institution for Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata suggest that it was the planet’s intrinsic magnetic dynamo which, by shielding its atmosphere from the sun’s solar wind, protected its atmosphere. When the magnetic dynamo switched off, the atmosphere slowly was eroded by the solar wind and eventually vanished, leaving the thin remnant we see today. These results have been published in the journal

Related Keywords

Kolkata , West Bengal , India , Dibyendu Nandi , Monthly Notices Of The Royal Astronomical Society , Indian Institution For Science Education , Space Sciences India , Indian Institution , Science Education , Monthly Notices , Royal Astronomical , Global Surveyor , Mars , Atmosphere , Exoplanets , Life , Magnetosphere , Iiser Kolkata , கொல்கத்தா , மேற்கு பெங்கல் , இந்தியா , தீபயெந்டு நந்தி , மாதாந்திர அறிவிப்புகள் ஆஃப் தி அரச வானியல் சமூகம் , இந்தியன் நிறுவனம் க்கு அறிவியல் கல்வி , இடம் அறிவியல் இந்தியா , இந்தியன் நிறுவனம் , அறிவியல் கல்வி , மாதாந்திர அறிவிப்புகள் , அரச வானியல் , உலகளாவிய நிலமளப்போர் , செவ்வாய் கிரகம் , வளிமண்டலம் , வாழ்க்கை , இசெர் கொல்கத்தா ,