Journal article
Episodic detachment of Martian crustal magnetic fields leading to bulk atmospheric plasma escape
Geophysical research letters, Vol.37(14), L14108
2010
DOI: 10.1029/2010GL043916
Abstract
We present an analysis of magnetic field and suprathermal electron measurements from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft that reveals isolated magnetic structures filled with Martian atmospheric plasma located downstream from strong crustal magnetic fields with respect to the flowing solar wind. The structures are characterized by magnetic field enhancements and rotations characteristic of magnetic flux ropes, and characteristic ionospheric electron energy distributions with angular distributions distinct from surrounding regions. These observations indicate that significant amounts of atmosphere are intermittently being carried away from Mars by a bulk removal process: the top portions of crustal field loops are stretched through interaction with the solar wind and detach via magnetic reconnection. This process occurs frequently and may account for as much as 10% of the total present-day ion escape from Mars.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Episodic detachment of Martian crustal magnetic fields leading to bulk atmospheric plasma escape
- Creators
- D. A Brain - University of California, BerkeleyA. H Baker - Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryJ Briggs - University of California, BerkeleyJ. P Eastwood - Imperial College LondonJ. S Halekas - University of California, BerkeleyT. D Phan - University of California, Berkeley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.37(14), L14108
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union
- DOI
- 10.1029/2010GL043916
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2010
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984200044602771
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