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Science 18 May 1990:
Vol. 248. no. 4957, pp. 835 - 838
DOI: 10.1126/science.248.4957.835
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Articles

Evidence for Magnetospheric Effects on the Sodium Atmosphere of Mercury

A. E. Potter 1 and T. H. Morgan 2

1 Code SN3, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058
2 Code EL, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546

Monochromatic images of Mercury at the sodium D2 emission line showed excess sodium emission in localized regions at high northern and southern latitudes and day-to-day global variations in the distribution of sodium emission. These phenomena support the suggestion that magnetospheric effects could be the cause. Sputtering of surface minerals could produce sodium vapor in polar regions during magnetic substorms, when magnetospheric ions directly impact the surface. Another important process may be the transport of sodium ions along magnetic field lines toward polar regions, where they impact directly on the surface of Mercury and are neutralized to regenerate neutral sodium atoms. Day-to-day variations in planetary sodium distributions could result from changing solar activity, which can change the magnetosphere in time scales of a few hours. Observations of the sodium exosphere may provide a tool for remote monitoring of the magnetosphere of Mercury.

Submitted on November 21, 1989
Accepted on March 7, 1990


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
MESSENGER Observations of the Composition of Mercury's Ionized Exosphere and Plasma Environment.
T. H. Zurbuchen, J. M. Raines, G. Gloeckler, S. M. Krimigis, J. A. Slavin, P. L. Koehn, R. M. Killen, A. L. Sprague, R. L. McNutt Jr., and S. C. Solomon (2008)
Science 321, 90-92
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence for a basalt-free surface on Mercury and implications for internal heat.
R Jeanloz, D. Mitchell, A. Sprague, and I de Pater (1995)
Science 268, 1455-1457
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Mercury Radar Imaging: Evidence for Polar Ice.
M. A. Slade, M. A. Slade, B. J. Butler, and D. O. Muhleman (1992)
Science 258, 635-640
   Abstract »    PDF »
Detecting Potassium on Mercury.
R. M. Killen, R. M. KILLEN, A. E. POTTER, and T. H. MORGAN (1991)
Science 252, 974-975
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Caloris Basin: An Enhanced Source for Potassium in Mercury's Atmosphere.
A. L. Sprague, A. L. Sprague, R. W. H. Kozlowski, and D. M. Hunten (1990)
Science 249, 1140-1143
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