The loss of water from Mars: Numerical results and challenges

The simulation of Mars is a very challenging effort. However, simulations are a major method of addressing the issues of the solar wind interaction with Mars. Further, it is via simulations that issues such as water loss from Mars via solar wind pick up of ionospheric ions will be addressed. This paper discusses some of the issues raised during the Chapman Conference on Solar Wind Interactions with Mars, SWIM. it also addresses numerical issues and the authors attempts to address them, coupled with results of preliminary simulations of Mars. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.