Journal article
Comparison of Global Martian Plasma Models in the Context of MAVEN Observations
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.123(5), pp.3714-3726
05/2018
DOI: 10.1029/2017JA025068
Abstract
Global models of the interaction of the solar wind with the Martian upper atmosphere have proved to be valuable tools for investigating both the escape to space of the Martian atmosphere and the physical processes controlling this complex interaction. The many models currently in use employ different physical assumptions, but it can be difficult to directly compare the effectiveness of the models since they are rarely run for the same input conditions. Here we present the results of a model comparison activity, where five global models (single‐fluid MHD, multifluid MHD, multifluid electron pressure MHD, and two hybrid models) were run for identical conditions corresponding to a single orbit of observations from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft. We find that low‐altitude ion densities are very similar across all models and are comparable to MAVEN ion density measurements from periapsis. Plasma boundaries appear generally symmetric in all models and vary only slightly in extent. Despite these similarities there are clear morphological differences in ion behavior in other regions such as the tail and southern hemisphere. These differences are observable in ion escape loss maps and are necessary to understand in order to accurately use models in aiding our understanding of the Martian plasma environment.
Key Points
Various Martian plasma models show clear morphological differences in the state of the global plasma
Comparing these models with MAVEN data shows what physics is necessary to model different physical regions
Modeled escape rates compare well with each other and with estimates from data, despite morphological differences in escaping ion flux maps
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Comparison of Global Martian Plasma Models in the Context of MAVEN Observations
- Creators
- Hilary Egan - University of Colorado BoulderYingjuan Ma - University of California, Los AngelesChuanfei Dong - Princeton UniversityRonan Modolo - Université Paris-SaclayRiku Jarvinen - Finnish Meteorological InstituteStephen Bougher - Department of Climate and Space Sciences and EngineeringJasper Halekas - University of IowaDavid Brain - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsJames Mcfadden - University of California, BerkeleyJohn Connerney - NASA/Goddard Space Flight CenterDavid Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyBruce Jakosky - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.123(5), pp.3714-3726
- DOI
- 10.1029/2017JA025068
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- Academy of Finland (257831)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2018
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199782102771
Metrics
4 Record Views