Journal article
A comparison of global models for the solar wind interaction with Mars
Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962), Vol.206(1), pp.139-151
01/01/2010
DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2009.06.030
Abstract
International audience; We present initial results from the first community-wide effort to compare global plasma interaction model results for Mars. Seven modeling groups participated in this activity, using MHD, multi-fluid, and hybrid assumptions in their simulations. Moderate solar wind and solar EUV conditions were chosen, and the conditions were implemented in the models and run to steady state. Model output was compared in three ways to determine how pressure was partitioned and conserved in each model, the location and asymmetry of plasma boundaries and pathways for planetary ion escape, and the total escape flux of planetary oxygen ions. The two participating MHD models provided similar results, while the five sets of multi-fluid and hybrid results were different in many ways. All hybrid results, however, showed two main channels for oxygen ion escape (a pickup ion 'plume' in the hemisphere toward which the solar wind convection electric field is directed, and a channel in the opposite hemisphere of the central magnetotail), while the MHD models showed one (a roughly symmetric channel in the central magnetotail). Most models showed a transition from an upstream region dominated by plasma dynamic pressure to a magnetosheath region dominated by thermal pressure to a low altitude region dominated by magnetic pressure. However, calculated escape rates for a single ion species varied by roughly an order of magnitude for similar input conditions, suggesting that the uncertainties in both the current and integrated escape over martian history as determined by models are large. These uncertainties are in addition to those associated with the evolution of the Sun, the martian dynamo, and the early atmosphere, highlighting the challenges we face in constructing Mars' past using models.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A comparison of global models for the solar wind interaction with Mars
- Creators
- D Brain - Space Sciences LaboratoryS Barabash - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsA Boesswetter - Technische Universität BraunschweigS Bougher - University of MichiganS Brecht - Bay Area Research Corporation, Orinda, CA, USAGérard Chanteur - CETP-IPSL, 10–12 avenue de l’Europe, 78140, Vélizy, FranceD Hurley - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryEduard Dubinin - Max Planck SocietyX Fang - University of Colorado BoulderM Fraenz - Max Planck SocietyJ Halekas - Space Sciences LaboratoryE Harnett - University of WashingtonM Holmstrom - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsE Kallio - Finnish Meteorological InstituteH Lammer - Austrian Academy of SciencesS Ledvina - Space Sciences LaboratoryM Liemohn - University of MichiganK Liu - Finnish Meteorological InstituteJ Luhmann - Space Sciences LaboratoryY Ma - University of California, Los AngelesRonan Modolo - Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-YvelinesA Nagy - University of MichiganU Motschmann - Technische Universität BraunschweigHans Nilsson - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsH Shinagawa - National Institute of Information and Communications TechnologyS Simon - University of CologneN Terada - National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962), Vol.206(1), pp.139-151
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.icarus.2009.06.030
- ISSN
- 0019-1035
- eISSN
- 1090-2643
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2010
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199856602771
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