![](http://planetinsitu.space/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/planetinsitu_logo_trimmed.png)
Planetary In Situ Surface-Atmosphere Interactions
#planetinsitu
Encouraging and developing a scientific and engineering community focused on the in situ exploration of planetary surface-atmosphere interactions.
Our goals
The interaction between the surface and atmosphere plays a critical role in current atmospheric, climate, and geological phenomena while also control the creation of the geological record that provides a time machine with which we can explore the history of a planetary body. This is true of all worlds with solid surfaces, whether terrestrial or icy. We are an informal, grass-roots community promoting the ongoing research into surface-atmospheric interactions. We have a specific focus on past, current, and future in situ observations of surface-atmosphere interactions. Our goals are:
- to improve our understanding of the physics, chemistry, and biology of surface-atmosphere interactions, using past and current observations;
- to identify, develop, and implement new in situ measurement technologies, including instrument and spacecraft technology;
- to promote the value of this research to NASA, with the hopes that we will see future missions focused on the in situ observations needed to investigate surface-atmosphere in situ science.
![](http://planetinsitu.space/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/KelsoSand-edited.jpg)
Aeolian Processes
Aeolian processes involve the movement of sand, dust, and any other granular material across a world’s surface and into its atmosphere. These processes can shape the morphology of a world’s surface and impact the climate.
![](http://planetinsitu.space/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-07-38-03-Scientists-Discover-Clean-Water-Ice-Just-Below-Mars-Surface-1-e1668637381778-1024x1024.png)
Volatile Transport
Volatiles, such as water and carbon dioxide, can convert between solid, liquid, and gas under some planetary conditions. These substances move back and forth between a world’s surface and its atmosphere, impacting the near-surface environment and even its habitability.
![](http://planetinsitu.space/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/151990main_elec_dust_storm_lgweb-edited.jpg)
Other processes
Near-surface processes interact with and bear upon many other atmospheric and surface processes at a variety of temporal and spatial scales. For example, regional dust storms on Mars super-charge the global loss of water from the atmosphere.