6. Atmospheric Electricity
2005: IVA-3
2010: 2D
Priority: Medium
2005 Version
3. Investigation. Assess atmospheric electricity
conditions that may affect TAO and human
occupation.
Measurements:
- Basic measurements:
DC E-fields: 0-80 kV/m, dV=1 V, bandwidth 0-10 Hz, rate = 20
Hz
AC E-fields: 10 uV/m – 10 V/m, Frequency Coverage 10 Hz-200 MHz, rate = 20
Hz, with time domain sampling capability
Atmospheric Conductivity: 10-15 to
10-10 S/m, ds= 10% of local ambient value
Ground Conductivity: >10-13 S/m,
ds= 10% of local ambient value
Grain charge: >10-17 C
Grain radius:
1-100 mm
- Combine with surface meteorological measurements to correlate electric forces and their causative meteorological source for more than 1 Martian year, both in dust devils and large dust storms. Combine requirements for 1Bb with 3a above.
Source:
MEPAG (2008), Mars Scientific Goals,
Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities: 2008,
J.R. Johnson,
ed., 37 p. white paper posted September, 2008 by the Mars Exploration Program
Analysis Group (MEPAG) at http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/index.html.
