The morphology of the topside ionosphere of Mars under different solar wind conditions : results of a multi-instrument observing campaign by Mars Express in 2010

Withers, Paul and Matta, M. and Lester, Mark and Andrews, D. and Edburg, N. and Nilsson, H. and Opgenoorth, H. J. and Curry, Shannon and Lillis, Robert and Dubinin, E. and Franz, M. and Han, X. and Kofman, Wlodek and Lei, L. and Morgan, David and Patzold, M. and Peter, Kirsten and Opitz, Andrea and Wild, Jim and Witasse, O. (2016) The morphology of the topside ionosphere of Mars under different solar wind conditions : results of a multi-instrument observing campaign by Mars Express in 2010. Planetary and Space Science, 120. pp. 24-34. ISSN 0032-0633

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Abstract

Since the internally-generated magnetic field of Mars is weak, strong coupling is ex- pected between the solar wind, planetary magnetosphere, and planetary ionosphere. However, few previous observational studies of this coupling incorporated data that extended from the solar wind to deep into the ionosphere. Here we use solar wind, magnetosphere, and ionosphere data obtained by the Mars Express spacecraft dur- ing March/April 2010 to investigate this coupling. We focus on three case studies, each centered on a pair of ionospheric electron density profiles measured by radio occultations, where the two profiles in each pair were obtained from the same lo- cation at an interval of only a few days. We find that high dynamic pressures in the solar wind are associated with compression of the magnetosphere, heating of the magnetosheath, reduction in the vertical extent of the ionosphere, and abrupt changes in electron density at the top of the ionosphere. The first three of these associations are analogous to the behavior of the plasma environment of Venus, but the final one is not. These results reinforce the notion that changes in solar forc- ing influence the behaviors of all of the tightly coupled regions within the Martian plasma environment.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Planetary and Space Science
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Planetary and Space Science. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Planetary and Space Science, 120, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2015.10.013
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3100/3103
Subjects:
?? marssolar windmagnetosphereionosphereastronomy and astrophysicsspace and planetary science ??
ID Code:
78391
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
25 Feb 2016 16:42
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:29