⚡️ Mars sculpted by surprising electrical activity

Mars is not the dead planet it is often imagined to be: intense electrical activity is constantly sculpting its landscape.

Dust storms and dust devils produce charges that can lead to discharges, comparable to small lightning flashes. These electrical events actively transform the chemistry of the Martian surface and its tenuous atmosphere. When dust grains collide, friction causes a buildup of electrostatic charges. Under the low atmospheric pressure of Mars, these discharges occur more easily than on Earth. They can then initiate multiple chemical reactions, altering the compounds present.


To study these processes, scientists have reproduced Martian conditions in the laboratory. Alian Wang's team has developed simulation chambers adapted to the environment of the red planet. These experiments have made it possible to identify various chemicals formed by the discharges, such as volatile chlorinated compounds or carbonates. The observations obtained are consistent with data from ongoing space missions.

A notable advance lies in the analysis of isotopes, the light or heavy versions of chemical elements. Researchers measured the isotopic compositions of chlorine, oxygen, and carbon in the discharge products. They observed a marked reduction in heavy isotopes, a signature of the influence of electrochemistry. This finding, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, provides strong evidence for the importance of these phenomena.


This entire body of work culminates in a global model of Martian chemistry. It shows how isotopic signatures migrate from discharge products into the atmosphere, before returning to the surface. This permanent cycle explains, for example, the very low values of a chlorine isotope measured by NASA's Curiosity rover. Dust-associated electrochemistry thus positions itself as a major player in the geochemical evolution of Mars.

The implications of this research extend beyond Mars. Comparable mechanisms could be at work on other celestial bodies, such as Venus or the Moon, where triboelectric processes are also plausible. Understanding these phenomena helps us grasp the diversity of planetary environments in our Solar System. Future space missions will be able to rely on this knowledge to explore these worlds with a more refined approach.