Meteoric Metal Chemistry in the Martian Atmosphere

Recent measurements by the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument on NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission show that a persistent layer of Mg⁺ ions occurs around 90 km in the Martian atmosphere but that neutral Mg atoms are not detectable. These observations can be satisfactorily modeled with a global meteoric ablation rate of 0.06 t sol^-1, out of a cosmic dust input of 2.7 ± 1.6 t sol^-1. The absence of detectable Mg at 90 km requires that at least 50% of the ablating Mg atoms ionize through hyperthermal collisions with CO₂ molecules. Dissociative recombination of MgO⁺.(CO₂)_n cluster ions with electrons to produce MgCO₃ directly, rather than MgO, also avoids a buildup of Mg to detectable levels. The meteoric injection rate of Mg, Fe, and other metals-constrained by the IUVS measurements-enables the production rate of metal carbonate molecules (principally MgCO₃ and FeCO₃) to be determined. These molecules have very large electric dipole moments (11.6 and 9.2 Debye, respectively) and thus form clusters with up to six H₂O molecules at temperatures below 150 K. These clusters should then coagulate efficiently, building up metal carbonate-rich ice particles which can act as nucleating particles for the formation of CO₂-ice clouds. Observable mesospheric clouds are predicted to occur between 65 and 80 km at temperatures below 95 K and above 85 km at temperatures about 5 K colder.

A Sporadic Third Layer in the Ionosphere of Mars

The daytime martian ionosphere has been observed as a two-layer structure with electron densities that peak at altitudes between about 110 and 130 kilometers. The Mars Express Orbiter Radio Science Experiment on the European Mars Express spacecraft observed, in 10 out of 120 electron density profiles, a third ionospheric layer at altitude ranges of 65 to 110 kilometers, where electron densities, on average, peaked at 0.8 x 10(10) per cubic meter. Such a layer has been predicted to be permanent and continuous. Its origin has been attributed to ablation of meteors and charge exchange of magnesium and iron. Our observations imply that this layer is present sporadically and locally.