Journal article
MAVEN observations of magnetic flux ropes with a strong field amplitude in the Martian magnetosheath during the ICME passage on 8 March 2015
Geophysical research letters, Vol.43(10), pp.4816-4824
05/28/2016
DOI: 10.1002/2016GL068960
Abstract
We present initial results of strong field amplitude flux ropes observed by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission around Mars during the interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) passage on 8 March 2015. The observed durations were shorter than 5 s and the magnetic field magnitudes peaked above 80 nT, which is a few times stronger than those usually seen in the magnetosheath barrier. These are the first unique observations that MAVEN detected such flux ropes with a strong field at high altitudes (>5000 km). Across these structures, MAVEN coincidentally measured planetary heavy ions with energies higher than a few keV. The spatial properties inferred from the Grad‐Shafranov equation suggest that the speed of the structure can be estimated at least an order of magnitude faster than those previously reported quiet‐time counterparts. Hence, the space weather event like the ICME passage can be responsible for generating the observed strong field, fast‐traveling flux ropes.
Key Points
MAVEN detected strong field amplitude flux ropes in the magnetosheath during ICME passage in March 2015
Such strong flux ropes (>80 nT) are first detected at the high altitudes (>5000 km) at Mars
Estimated traveling velocity of flux ropes is at least an order of magnitude faster than usual cases
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- MAVEN observations of magnetic flux ropes with a strong field amplitude in the Martian magnetosheath during the ICME passage on 8 March 2015
- Creators
- Takuya Hara - University of California, BerkeleyJanet G Luhmann - University of California, BerkeleyJasper S Halekas - University of IowaJared R Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterKanako Seki - The University of TokyoDavid A Brain - University of Colorado BoulderHiroshi Hasegawa - Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyJames P McFadden - University of California, BerkeleyDavid L Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyChristian Mazelle - Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST)Yuki Harada - University of California, BerkeleyRoberto Livi - University of California, BerkeleyGina A DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight CenterJohn E. P Connerney - Goddard Space Flight CenterLailla Andersson - University of Colorado BoulderBruce M Jakosky - University of Colorado Boulder
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.43(10), pp.4816-4824
- DOI
- 10.1002/2016GL068960
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- NASA CNES
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/28/2016
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199767002771
Metrics
1 Record Views