EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Farrell et al. 2006
Farrell, W.M., Marshall, J.R., Cummer, S.A., Delory, G.T. and Desch, M.D. (2006). A model of the ULF magnetic and electric field generated from a dust devil. Journal of Geophysical Research 111: doi: 10.1029/2006JE002689. issn: 0148-0227.

It has been demonstrated that terrestrial dust devils emit ULF magnetic radiation. On Mars, dust devils may also generate such magnetic emissions, which might be used as a hazard alert for manned missions. Specifically, grains in dust devils become charged via contact electrification, and it has been proposed that the cyclonic motion of these charged grains in the vortex wind fields accounts for the magnetic emission. To test this hypothesis in general and the possible Mars application, a computer simulation of the contact electrification/wind blowing phenomena was created, with the charge distribution and resulting magnetic fields monitored as a function of time. The results indicate that indeed a fluctuating charge distribution in a vortex wind can account for the ULF magnetic fields measured from a dust devil. The contact electrification process is a function of composition, and we demonstrate that the various compositions will give rise to different magnetic field responses from the dust devil. We also demonstrate that this system of swirling charged grains develops vertical currents and associated electric fields, as suggested in preceding works.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Planetary Sciences, Solid Surface Planets, Atmospheres (0343, 1060), Planetary Sciences, Solar System Objects, Mars, Atmospheric Processes, Atmospheric electricity, Planetary Sciences, Solid Surface Planets, Interactions with particles and fields, Planetary Sciences, Solid Surface Planets, Meteorology
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit