Journal article
MAVEN observations of a giant ionospheric flux rope near Mars resulting from interaction between the crustal and interplanetary draped magnetic fields
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.122(1), pp.828-842
01/2017
DOI: 10.1002/2016JA023347
Abstract
We present Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) observations of a giant magnetic flux rope in the Martian dayside ionosphere. The flux rope was observed at an altitude of <300 km, downstream from strong subsolar crustal magnetic fields. The peak field amplitude was ∼200 nT, resulting in the largest difference between the observed magnetic field strength and a model for crustal magnetic fields of the entire MAVEN primary science phase. MAVEN detected planetary ions, including H+, O+, and
O2+, across the structure. The axial orientation estimated for the flux rope indicates that it likely formed as a result of interactions between the local crustal and overlaid draped interplanetary magnetic fields. Pitch angle distributions of ionospheric photoelectrons imply that this structure is connected to the Martian upper atmosphere. However, the flux rope is not present in observations at the next commensurable orbit crossing (approximately two Martian days later), implying that it eventually detaches from the atmosphere and is carried downstream. The flux rope observations occurred during an interplanetary coronal mass ejection event at Mars, suggesting that the disturbed upstream state played a role in allowing the interplanetary magnetic field to penetrate deeper into the Martian ionosphere than is typical, allowing the formation of the flux rope.
Key Points
MAVEN observed a giant flux rope near the subsolar point of the Martian ionosphere, downstream from the strong crustal fields
The observed giant ionospheric flux rope was formed via interactions between the local crustal and overlaid draped magnetic fields
The event was observed during the ICME passage by Mars, indicating that the ICME played a role in forming the observed giant flux rope
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- MAVEN observations of a giant ionospheric flux rope near Mars resulting from interaction between the crustal and interplanetary draped magnetic fields
- Creators
- Takuya Hara - University of California, BerkeleyDavid A Brain - University of Colorado BoulderDavid L Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyJanet G Luhmann - University of California, BerkeleyKanako Seki - The University of TokyoHiroshi Hasegawa - Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyJames P Mcfadden - University of California, BerkeleyJasper S Halekas - University of IowaJared R Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterYuki Harada - University of California, BerkeleyRoberto Livi - University of California, BerkeleyGina A DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight CenterJohn E. P Connerney - Goddard Space Flight CenterChristian Mazelle - Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST)Laila Andersson - University of Colorado BoulderBruce M Jakosky - University of Colorado Boulder
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.122(1), pp.828-842
- DOI
- 10.1002/2016JA023347
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 15
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2017
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199690902771
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