  Lower atmospheric global dust storms affect the small- and large-scale
weather and variability of the whole Martian atmosphere. Analysis of the CO$_2$
density data from the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer instrument (NGIMS)
on board NASA's Mars Atmosphere Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft show a
remarkable increase of GW-induced density fluctuations in the thermosphere
during the 2018 major dust storm with distinct latitude and local time
variability. The mean thermospheric GW activity increases by a factor of two
during the storm event. The magnitude of relative density perturbations is
around 20% on average and 40% locally. One and a half months later, the GW
activity gradually decreases. Enhanced temperature disturbances in the Martian
thermosphere can facilitate atmospheric escape. For the first time, we estimate
that, for a 20% and 40% GW-induced disturbances, the net increase of Jeans
escape flux of hydrogen is a factor of 1.3 and 2, respectively.
