Journal article
Correlations between enhanced electron temperatures and electric field wave power in the Martian ionosphere
Geophysical research letters, Vol.45(2), pp.493-501
01/28/2018
DOI: 10.1002/2017GL073387
Abstract
Statistical correlations are reported between measured electron temperatures and total electric field wave power (in the 2–100 Hz frequency range), at Mars' subsolar point ionosphere. The observations, made by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft, suggest that electric field wave power from the Mars‐solar wind interaction propagates through the Martian ionosphere and is able to heat ionospheric electrons by over 1000 K. Such heating can account for a substantial (but likely not complete) fraction of previously reported discrepancies between modeled and observed electron temperatures in Mars' upper ionosphere. Wave power is typically less than observable thresholds below altitudes of about 200 km, suggesting that energy is deposited into the ionosphere above this. Observed total wave powers range between 10−12 and 10−9 (V/m)2 and decrease with increasing integrated electron density (or decreasing altitude).
Key Points
Correlations exist between observed electron temperature and total electric field wave power in Mars' ionosphere
Electron temperature can be enhanced by over 1000 K for the largest observed wave powers
The observed heating can account for a large fraction of reported discrepancies between modeled and observed electron temperatures
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Correlations between enhanced electron temperatures and electric field wave power in the Martian ionosphere
- Creators
- C. M Fowler - University of Colorado BoulderL Andersson - University of Colorado BoulderW. K Peterson - University of Colorado BoulderJ Halekas - University of IowaA. F Nagy - University of MichiganR. E Ergun - University of Colorado BoulderJ Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterD. L Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyJ. E. P Connerney - Goddard Space Flight CenterC Mazelle - Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST)P. R Mahaffy - Goddard Space Flight CenterB. M Jakosky - University of Colorado Boulder
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.45(2), pp.493-501
- DOI
- 10.1002/2017GL073387
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- NASA
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/28/2018
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199750202771
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