<p>The Martian nightglow comes from molecules in the atmosphere that react with solar radiation, carry it over to the night side, and give off the energy they gained as ultraviolet light as they free-form stable compounds.  From <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/goddard/2020/mars-nightglow" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/goddard/2020/mars-nightglow</a>:</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oGe69.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The diagram explains the cause of Mars’ glowing nightside atmosphere. On Mars’ dayside, molecules are torn apart by energetic solar photons. Global circulation patterns carry the atomic fragments to the nightside, where downward winds increase the reaction rate for the atoms to reform molecules. The downwards winds occur near the poles at some seasons and in the equatorial regions at others. The new molecules hold extra energy which they emit as ultraviolet light.
Credits: NASA/MAVEN/Goddard Space Flight Center/CU/LASP</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Martian nightglow has been used to trace atmospheric circulation on Mars.</p>
<p>As for a similar phenomenon on Earth, and for that matter on planets generally, the above NASA reference goes on to say:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Many planets including Earth have nightglow, but MAVEN is the first mission to collect so many images of another planet’s nightglow.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-07T01:56:39.830Z
I've broken the question up into two parts; 1) Is it possible to explain in simple terms what makes these waves happen? and 2) Is a similar or at least related phenomenon detectable in Earth's atmosphere? I don't see anything yet that addresses this wave phenomenon on Mars or on Earth. Is it possible to at least find something that Earth's night glow also pulses due to a related wave phenomenon? That would at least address 2).
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T22:27:06.060Z
**Possibly helpful:** [Discrete Aurora at Mars: Dependence on Upstream Solar Wind Conditions](https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JA030238)
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-07T01:01:27.670Z
2020-08-07T01:01:27.670Z
Oscar Lanzi
<p>I link below to questions on another kind of Mars pulse) Phys.org's <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-08-nasa-maven-martian-night-sky.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">NASA's Maven observes Martian night sky pulsing in ultraviolet light</a> links to the new paper <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2019JA027318" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Imaging of Martian Circulation Patterns and Atmospheric Tides Through MAVEN/IUVS Nightglow Observations</a> in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.</p>
<p>This seems to be related to long period of waves in Mars' atmosphere.</p>
<p>Question:</p>
<ol>
<li>Is it possible to explain in simple terms what makes these waves happen?</li>
<li>Is a analogous or at least related <strong>wave</strong> phenomenon detectable in Earth's atmosphere?</li>
</ol>
<hr />
<p>A different (and currently unanswered) question about a different periodic behavior in Mars' atmosphere:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/19325/6031">How could the solar wind cause strange magnetic pulses on Mars at midnight?</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-07T03:19:21.780Z
I haven't found anything about pulsations in UV, but the night glow also occurs on [Earth & Venus](https://bioengineer.org/a-new-look-at-mars-eerie-ultraviolet-nighttime-glow/). The night glow was first discovered on Mars by ESA's Mars Express probe in 2003.
Fred
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-07T04:31:27.003Z
@Fred thanks! Whatever these waves are, all that's necessary to address item 2) is some evidence that similar waves are seen on Earth.
uhoh
<planetary-science><atmospheric-chemistry><satellites><solar-terrestrial-physics><upper-atmosphere>
Now Mars is pulsing 3 times per night in the UV, can anyone explain these waves in simple terms? Do these waves have analogies on Earth?
uhoh
# Now Mars is pulsing 3 times per night in the UV, can anyone explain these waves in simple terms? Do these waves have analogies on Earth?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-06)

I link below to questions on another kind of Mars pulse) Phys.org's [NASA's Maven observes Martian night sky pulsing in ultraviolet light](https://phys.org/news/2020-08-nasa-maven-martian-night-sky.html) links to the new paper [Imaging of Martian Circulation Patterns and Atmospheric Tides Through MAVEN/IUVS Nightglow Observations](https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2019JA027318) in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.

This seems to be related to long period of waves in Mars' atmosphere.

Question:

1. Is it possible to explain in simple terms what makes these waves happen?
2. Is a analogous or at least related **wave** phenomenon detectable in Earth's atmosphere?

---

A different (and currently unanswered) question about a different periodic behavior in Mars' atmosphere:

* [How could the solar wind cause strange magnetic pulses on Mars at midnight?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/19325/6031)

**Tags:** planetary-science, atmospheric-chemistry, satellites, solar-terrestrial-physics, upper-atmosphere

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I haven't found anything about pulsations in UV, but the night glow also occurs on [Earth & Venus](https://bioengineer.org/a-new-look-at-mars-eerie-ultraviolet-nighttime-glow/). The night glow was first discovered on Mars by ESA's Mars Express probe in 2003.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 thanks! Whatever these waves are, all that's necessary to address item 2) is some evidence that similar waves are seen on Earth.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-08-07. Score: 3

The Martian nightglow comes from molecules in the atmosphere that react with solar radiation, carry it over to the night side, and give off the energy they gained as ultraviolet light as they free-form stable compounds. From <https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/goddard/2020/mars-nightglow>:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/oGe69.jpg)

> The diagram explains the cause of Mars’ glowing nightside atmosphere. On Mars’ dayside, molecules are torn apart by energetic solar photons. Global circulation patterns carry the atomic fragments to the nightside, where downward winds increase the reaction rate for the atoms to reform molecules. The downwards winds occur near the poles at some seasons and in the equatorial regions at others. The new molecules hold extra energy which they emit as ultraviolet light.
> Credits: NASA/MAVEN/Goddard Space Flight Center/CU/LASP

The Martian nightglow has been used to trace atmospheric circulation on Mars.

As for a similar phenomenon on Earth, and for that matter on planets generally, the above NASA reference goes on to say:

> Many planets including Earth have nightglow, but MAVEN is the first mission to collect so many images of another planet’s nightglow.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I've broken the question up into two parts; 1) Is it possible to explain in simple terms what makes these waves happen? and 2) Is a similar or at least related phenomenon detectable in Earth's atmosphere? I don't see anything yet that addresses this wave phenomenon on Mars or on Earth. Is it possible to at least find something that Earth's night glow also pulses due to a related wave phenomenon? That would at least address 2).  
> **username_0**: **Possibly helpful:** [Discrete Aurora at Mars: Dependence on Upstream Solar Wind Conditions](https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JA030238)  

---

