Journal article
Empirically Determined Auroral Electron Events at Mars—MAVEN Observations
Geophysical research letters, Vol.49(6), e2022GL097757
03/28/2022
DOI: 10.1029/2022GL097757
Abstract
Discrete aurorae have been observed at magnetized planets such as Earth and Jupiter, triggered by accelerated electrons. Similar aurorae have also been observed at Mars with only localized strong crustal magnetisms. However, our understanding of this phenomenon at Mars is still limited. In particular, direct and quantitative comparisons of the auroral and its source electron events are lacking as these two types of observations are usually made at different times and/or locations. In this study, we establish empirical criteria to select electron events (“auroral electrons”) that could trigger detectable auroral emissions with Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN measurements, thereby enabling a direct statistical comparison. We find auroral electrons share similar statistical characteristics to those previously reported for discrete auroral events. This study bridges the gap between electron observations and auroral detections and enables collaborations across different Mars missions, as well as comparative planetary studies of discrete aurora.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Empirically Determined Auroral Electron Events at Mars—MAVEN Observations
- Creators
- Shaosui Xu - University of California, BerkeleyDavid L. Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyJames P. McFadden - University of California, BerkeleyNicholas M. Schneider - University of Colorado BoulderZachariah Milby - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsSonal Jain - University of Colorado BoulderTristan Weber - Goddard Space Flight CenterDavid A. Brain - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsGina A. DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight CenterJasper Halekas - Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIAUSASuranga Ruhunusiri - Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIAUSAChristian Mazelle - Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-PyrénéesRobert J. Lillis - University of California, BerkeleyBen Johnston - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.49(6), e2022GL097757
- DOI
- 10.1029/2022GL097757
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: NNH10CC04C, 80NSSC17K0455; DOI: 10.13039/501100002830, name: Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/28/2022
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984428820802771
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