Altitude dependence of nightside Martian suprathermal electron depletions as revealed by MAVEN observations

M. Steckiewicz; C. Mazelle; P. Garnier; N. André; E. Penou; A. Beth; J-A Sauvaud; D. Toublanc; D. L Mitchell; J. P McFadden; J G Luhmann; R J Lillis; J E P Connerney; J R Espley; L. Andersson; J S Halekas; D. E Larson; B M Jakosky

doi:10.1002/2015GL065257

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Altitude dependence of nightside Martian suprathermal electron depletions as revealed by MAVEN observations

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Altitude dependence of nightside Martian suprathermal electron depletions as revealed by MAVEN observations

M. Steckiewicz, C. Mazelle, P. Garnier, N. André, E. Penou, A. Beth, J-A Sauvaud, D. Toublanc, D. L Mitchell, J. P McFadden, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.8877-8884

11/16/2015

DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065257

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Abstract

The MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft is providing new detailed observations of the Martian ionosphere thanks to its unique orbital coverage and instrument suite. During most periapsis passages on the nightside ionosphere suprathermal electron depletions were detected. A simple criterion was implemented to identify the 1742 depletions observed from 16 November 2014 to 28 February 2015. A statistical analysis reveals that the main ion and electron populations within the depletions are surprisingly constant in time and altitude. Absorption by CO2 is the main loss process for suprathermal electrons, and electrons that strongly peaked around 6 eV are resulting from this interaction. The observation of depletions appears however highly dependent on altitude. Depletions are mainly located above strong crustal magnetic sources above 170 km, whereas the depletions observed for the first time below 170 km are globally scattered onto the Martian surface with no particular dependence on crustal fields.

MD Multidisciplinary

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

Details

Title: Subtitle: Altitude dependence of nightside Martian suprathermal electron depletions as revealed by MAVEN observations
Creators: M. Steckiewicz - Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology
C. Mazelle - Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology
P. Garnier - Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology
N. André - Université de Toulouse
E. Penou - Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology
A. Beth - Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology
J-A Sauvaud - Université de Toulouse
D. Toublanc - Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology
D. L Mitchell
J. P McFadden - University of California, Berkeley
J G Luhmann
R J Lillis
J E P Connerney
J R Espley
L. Andersson - University of Colorado Boulder
J S Halekas
D. E Larson - University of California, Berkeley
B M Jakosky
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.8877-8884
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065257
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/501100002830, name: Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Language: English
Date published: 11/16/2015
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428812302771

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