Mars lost most of its atmosphere and surface water due to a lack of a magnetic field. Here are the key factors that contributed to the loss of Mars' atmosphere:
Loss of magnetic field: Mars had a magnetic field when it was young, and its iron core was molten and convecting, similar to Earth's core. However, Mars is smaller than Earth, and around 4.2 billion years ago, its core cooled, convection ceased, and Mars lost its magnetic shield.
Solar wind: Without a magnetic field to protect it, the solar wind violently scraped the Martian atmosphere, causing it to be lost to space. High-energy solar photons ionized gas molecules in the upper Martian atmosphere, causing the atmosphere to erode over time.
Sputtering: This process involves ions from the Martian atmosphere being picked up by the solar wind and slammed into other atoms at the top of the atmosphere, knocking them into space. By measuring light and heavy isotopes of argon in the Martian atmosphere, scientists have determined that the majority of the planet's air and water were removed to space by sputtering
As a result of these factors, Mars' atmosphere gradually thinned over billions of years, turning the once warm and wet planet into the cold, dry, and barren world we know today
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