About this Research Topic
The exosphere is the outermost layer of a planetary atmosphere and is dominated by atomic hydrogen. Within our solar system, knowledge of exospheric composition, energy, and density distributions can provide significant insight into atmospheric photochemistry (e.g., Venus), temporal atmospheric evolution (e.g., Earth, Mars, Venus, Titan), surface composition via interactions with the Sun (e.g., Mercury, Earth’s moon, the Jovian Moons), and space weather effects through coupling with the solar wind and the local plasma environment (e.g., Jovian moons, Earth, Mars, Titan). Our current understanding of the dynamics of these neutral populations is based on remote sensing observations of the resonantly scattered solar light in the far-ultraviolet (FUV) and fluorescent emissions in the visible wavelength range. In addition, physics-based modeling of planetary exospheres supports the analysis when critical measurements are not available.
In the last decade, several space-based missions have provided data from exospheres in our solar system either through remote sensing or in-situ mass spectroscopy. Such a dataset fostered (i) the development of exospheric models that describe crucial atmospheric escape theories, (ii) the implementation of sophisticated neutral density retrieval techniques required to characterize the dynamic nature of the exosphere, and (iii) the technological advancement of imaging and spectral instruments to be used in future missions. Till date, these efforts have been independently focused on a specific terrestrial body tuned to their particular atmospheric and magnetospheric conditions. However, the present state of models and instrument designs are suitable to investigate the upper atmospheres of different types of objects. Hence, this research topic aims to be the first essential hub for theoretical and practical methodologies used to study exospheres of terrestrial bodies throughout the solar system.
In this research topic, we are focused on investigations of the exosphere of terrestrial bodies in the solar system (e.g., Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars, Jovian moons, Titan, among others). We are looking for, but are not limited to, research on:
- Physics- and data-based modeling of the exospheres of solar system targets.
- Remote sensing techniques that include space- and ground-based UV/visible light observations.
- Inverse methods to retrieve density distributions.
- Studies of the interaction of the exosphere with local plasma populations (e.g., solar wind, ring current, plasmasphere, partial ionosphere) and the Sun.
- Estimation of atmospheric escape rates with seasons and solar activity.
- New instrument designs focused on exospheric measurements.
We welcome all kinds of articles such as original research papers, review, and perspective articles.
In the last decade, several space-based missions have provided data from exospheres in our solar system either through remote sensing or in-situ mass spectroscopy. Such a dataset fostered (i) the development of exospheric models that describe crucial atmospheric escape theories, (ii) the implementation of sophisticated neutral density retrieval techniques required to characterize the dynamic nature of the exosphere, and (iii) the technological advancement of imaging and spectral instruments to be used in future missions. Till date, these efforts have been independently focused on a specific terrestrial body tuned to their particular atmospheric and magnetospheric conditions. However, the present state of models and instrument designs are suitable to investigate the upper atmospheres of different types of objects. Hence, this research topic aims to be the first essential hub for theoretical and practical methodologies used to study exospheres of terrestrial bodies throughout the solar system.
In this research topic, we are focused on investigations of the exosphere of terrestrial bodies in the solar system (e.g., Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars, Jovian moons, Titan, among others). We are looking for, but are not limited to, research on:
- Physics- and data-based modeling of the exospheres of solar system targets.
- Remote sensing techniques that include space- and ground-based UV/visible light observations.
- Inverse methods to retrieve density distributions.
- Studies of the interaction of the exosphere with local plasma populations (e.g., solar wind, ring current, plasmasphere, partial ionosphere) and the Sun.
- Estimation of atmospheric escape rates with seasons and solar activity.
- New instrument designs focused on exospheric measurements.
We welcome all kinds of articles such as original research papers, review, and perspective articles.
Keywords: Exospheres, Terrestrial Bodies, Atmospheric Escape, ion-neutral coupling, atmospheric evolution
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
