Aspera/Phobos measurements of the ion outflow from the MARTIAN ionosphere

Abstract

This report reviews the first results on the ionospheric ion outflow in the Martian magnetosphere by the ion composition experiment ASPERA on Phobos‐2. The measurements show that Mars is characterized by a strong loss of plasma from its topside ionosphere. This loss results from both ion pick‐up due to mass‐loading of the solar wind in the Martian boundary layer and an acceleration mechanism, quite similar to that observed above the Earth's auroral oval, providing intense ionospheric O + beams of energies up to several keV. A preliminary estimate of the ionospheric outflow from Mars indicates that the planet at present is losing oxygen at a rate of ≈3·10 25 ions/s. This corresponds to an evacuation of its present total atmospheric oxygen content (contained in CO 2 and O 2 ) in less than 100 million years.