Journal article
MAVEN observations of the solar cycle 24 space weather conditions at Mars
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.122(3), pp.2768-2794
03/2017
DOI: 10.1002/2016JA023495
Abstract
The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft has been continuously observing the variability of solar soft X‐rays and EUV irradiance, monitoring the upstream solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions and measuring the fluxes of solar energetic ions and electrons since its arrival to Mars. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the space weather events observed during the first ∼1.9 years of the science mission, which includes the description of the solar and heliospheric sources of the space weather activity. To illustrate the variety of upstream conditions observed, we characterize a subset of the event periods by describing the Sun‐to‐Mars details using observations from the MAVEN solar Extreme Ultraviolet Monitor, solar energetic particle (SEP) instrument, Solar Wind Ion Analyzer, and Magnetometer together with solar observations using near‐Earth assets and numerical solar wind simulation results from the Wang‐Sheeley‐Arge‐Enlil model for some global context of the event periods. The subset of events includes an extensive period of intense SEP electron particle fluxes triggered by a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejection (CME) activity in December 2014, the impact by a succession of interplanetary CMEs and their associated SEPs in March 2015, and the passage of a strong corotating interaction region (CIR) and arrival of the CIR shock‐accelerated energetic particles in June 2015. However, in the context of the weaker heliospheric conditions observed throughout solar cycle 24, these events were moderate in comparison to the stronger storms observed previously at Mars.
Key Points
We present a comprehensive overview of the first 1.9 years of MAVEN space weather conditions measured upstream at Mars
We characterize a subset of Mars‐impacting events due to an extensive period of SEP electrons, a succession of ICMEs, and a strong CIR
We discuss the space weather implications of the weaker solar cycle 24 heliospheric conditions on the events observed by MAVEN
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- MAVEN observations of the solar cycle 24 space weather conditions at Mars
- Creators
- C. O Lee - University of California, BerkeleyT Hara - University of California, BerkeleyJ. S Halekas - University of IowaE Thiemann - University of Colorado BoulderP Chamberlin - Goddard Space Flight CenterF Eparvier - University of Colorado BoulderR. J Lillis - University of California, BerkeleyD. E Larson - University of California, BerkeleyP. A Dunn - University of California, BerkeleyJ. R Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterJ Gruesbeck - Goddard Space Flight CenterS. M Curry - University of California, BerkeleyJ. G Luhmann - University of California, BerkeleyB. M Jakosky - University of Colorado Boulder
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.122(3), pp.2768-2794
- DOI
- 10.1002/2016JA023495
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 27
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2017
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199728202771
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