Applications of Electrified Dust and Dust Devil Electrodynamics to Martian Atmospheric Electricity

TY - JOUR

T1 - Applications of Electrified Dust and Dust Devil Electrodynamics to Martian Atmospheric Electricity

AU - Harrison, R.G.

AU - Barth, E.

AU - Esposito, F.

AU - Merrison, J.

AU - Montmessin, F.

AU - Aplin, K.L.

AU - Borlina, C.

AU - Berthelier, J. J.

AU - Deprez, G.

AU - Farrell, W. M.

AU - Houghton, I. M. P.

AU - Renno, N. O.

AU - Nicoll, K. A.

AU - Tripathi, S. N.

AU - Zimmerman, M

PY - 2016/11/1

Y1 - 2016/11/1

N2 - Atmospheric transport and suspension of dust frequently brings electrification, which may be substantial. Electric fields of 10 kV m(-1) to 100 kV m(-1) have been observed at the surface beneath suspended dust in the terrestrial atmosphere, and some electrification has been observed to persist in dust at levels to 5 km, as well as in volcanic plumes. The interaction between individual particles which causes the electrification is incompletely understood, and multiple processes are thought to be acting. A variation in particle charge with particle size, and the effect of gravitational separation explains to, some extent, the charge structures observed in terrestrial dust storms. More extensive flow-based modelling demonstrates that bulk electric fields in excess of 10 kV m(-1) can be obtained rapidly (in less than 10 s) from rotating dust systems (dust devils) and that terrestrial breakdown fields can be obtained. Modelled profiles of electrical conductivity in the Martian atmosphere suggest the possibility of dust electrification, and dust devils have been suggested as a mechanism of charge separation able to maintain current flow between one region of the atmosphere and another, through a global circuit. Fundamental new understanding of Martian atmospheric electricity will result from the ExoMars mission, which carries the DREAMS (Dust characterization, Risk Assessment, and Environment Analyser on the Martian Surface)-MicroARES (Atmospheric Radiation and Electricity Sensor) instrumentation to Mars in 2016 for the first in situ electrical measurements.

AB - Atmospheric transport and suspension of dust frequently brings electrification, which may be substantial. Electric fields of 10 kV m(-1) to 100 kV m(-1) have been observed at the surface beneath suspended dust in the terrestrial atmosphere, and some electrification has been observed to persist in dust at levels to 5 km, as well as in volcanic plumes. The interaction between individual particles which causes the electrification is incompletely understood, and multiple processes are thought to be acting. A variation in particle charge with particle size, and the effect of gravitational separation explains to, some extent, the charge structures observed in terrestrial dust storms. More extensive flow-based modelling demonstrates that bulk electric fields in excess of 10 kV m(-1) can be obtained rapidly (in less than 10 s) from rotating dust systems (dust devils) and that terrestrial breakdown fields can be obtained. Modelled profiles of electrical conductivity in the Martian atmosphere suggest the possibility of dust electrification, and dust devils have been suggested as a mechanism of charge separation able to maintain current flow between one region of the atmosphere and another, through a global circuit. Fundamental new understanding of Martian atmospheric electricity will result from the ExoMars mission, which carries the DREAMS (Dust characterization, Risk Assessment, and Environment Analyser on the Martian Surface)-MicroARES (Atmospheric Radiation and Electricity Sensor) instrumentation to Mars in 2016 for the first in situ electrical measurements.

KW - Planetary electrostatics

KW - Lightning discharge

KW - Particle electrification

KW - Global circuit

KW - WIND-BLOWN SAND

KW - GRANULAR INSULATOR SYSTEMS

KW - CONTACT ELECTRIFICATION

KW - PARTICLE-SIZE

KW - ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGES

KW - OXIDANT ENHANCEMENT

KW - ION MEASUREMENTS

KW - SOLAR-SYSTEM

KW - FIELD METER

KW - MARS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84963642080&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11214-016-0241-8

DO - 10.1007/s11214-016-0241-8

M3 - Review

SN - 0038-6308

VL - 203

SP - 299

EP - 345

JO - Space Science Reviews

JF - Space Science Reviews

IS - 1-4

ER -