Hosted by Elise Wright Knutsen (ITS, CENSSS) and Vincent Kofman (PHAB), the seminar featured three exciting talks on the topics of Martian atmosphere, new instruments developed at UiO, and the effects of space weather on planetary atmospheres.
The primary mechanism for Hydrogen loss
Robin Ramstad (University of Colorado) presented his work on the effects of solar wind on the Martian atmosphere. Popular belief holds that Mars’s lack of global magnetic field allowed solar wind to strip the atmosphere and data from the MAVEN spacecraft suggests this is the primary mechanism for Hydrogen loss. However, it is suggested that the Extreme Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is principally responsible for Oxygen escape, through photochemical reactions.
Rebecka Wahlén (University of Oslo, CENSSS) showed her work as part of the team designing ASTRA-LEO, a novel radiation detector aboard CENSSAT-1. This instrument is designed to detect Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) to measure solar activity, observe gamma ray bursts, and quantify the neutron lifetime. ASTRA-LEO will launch with the CENSSAT-1 satellite in late 2027.
Konstantin Herbst (University of Oslo) provided a talk on the origins of solar wind – the stream of energetic particles that originate from stars and impact nearby bodies: affecting the chemistry in their upper atmospheres. He also explained some of his own work on how our understanding of the atmospheric composition of exoplanets may be significantly comprised by the solar activity of their parent stars.
Aimed to strengthen connections across UiO’s growing space research community
The seminar aimed to strengthen connections across UiO’s growing space research community by bringing together international experts and showcasing ongoing local projects. Elise Wright Knutsen reflected on the seminar:
"Seeing students, staff, and visiting researchers exchange ideas throughout the day was genuinely rewarding and underscored the value of creating spaces for collaboration. The strong turnout and lively discussions made the day feel especially rewarding, and I’m excited to see how the connections formed here will continue to grow."