My question is how did Mars lose its magnetoshere, becasue that is one of the beliefs to why its atmosphere has changed drastically, is this the reason, and if it is how did it lose its magnetoshpere and if it isnt what is the casue of the change in atmosphere.
Thank you in advance
2007-12-09 13:00:48 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The magnetic field around a planet is created by convection in a molten outer core combined with stirring in the outer core caused by the planet's rotation.
Mars' core cooled about 4 billion years ago, and without a molten core there is no dynamo effect to create an EM field.
2007-12-09 13:07:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Earth's magnetosphere is generated from a movement of the molten core with iron as one of it's chief constituents, creating a dynamo. The dynamo creates a large magnetic field. The factors that contribute to the heat needed for the molten core are the energy left from Earth's creation, internal heating from radioactivity, and some unknown mechanisms.
There is evidence that Mars had a magnetic field. Meteorites from Mars dated from many millions of years ago show Mar's may have had a magnetic field perhaps 1/10th as large as earth. The core of Mars, however, now is cold and does not create a dynamo, no longer producing a magnetic field. Perhaps the radioactive heating in Mar's core could not maintain enough heat output, or perhaps some other effect. The Mars Global Surveyor is looking directly into this mystery. Please see link
http://mgs-mager.gsfc.nasa.gov/Kids/magfield.html
2007-12-09 21:30:31 · answer #2 · answered by krism 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Core froze. You don't get a magnetosphere unless the planet has some fluid innards. That's part of the reason Mars lost atmosphere. Another part is Mars has a low surface gravity, and the light stuff evaporated away from the planet. Yet another part of the reason is that the oxygen on Mars has combined chemically with minerals on the ground, which is what makes all that red and orange stuff we see there.
2007-12-09 22:16:36 · answer #3 · answered by elohimself 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mars lots its magnetosphere for a couple very different reasons. The gates of the Abyss opened up and we had to send troops to destroy all the demons that got out and were destroying everything. Hence where the video game "doom" came from. Based off a true story. The other reason is from the solar rays from the sun were sending proton and neutrons into its surface, heating up the rocks, thats why their red, and the gaseous substance from the rocks floated into the magnetosphere ending it completely. I hope this helps, my sources are VERY reliable. Science Weekly and nerds from all over, thank you for your support.
2007-12-09 22:26:03 · answer #4 · answered by Blue_XIII 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To add to all their answers...if the earths core stopped spinning, our entire atmosphere would be blown away by solar winds. And our magnetic field does a complete switch every so many years...
2007-12-09 22:32:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To add to the first answer... The earth's magnetic field protects us from the charged particles emitted by the sun. Without that magnetic protection, much of our atmosphere would be stripped away.
2007-12-09 21:15:38 · answer #6 · answered by Gary H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋