Strong plume fluxes at Mars observed by MAVEN: An important planetary ion escape channel

Y. Dong; X. Fang; D. A. Brain; J. P. McFadden; J. S. Halekas; J. E. Connerney; S. M. Curry; Y. Harada; J. G. Luhmann; B. M. Jakosky

doi:10.1002/2015GL065346

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Strong plume fluxes at Mars observed by MAVEN: An important planetary ion escape channel

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Strong plume fluxes at Mars observed by MAVEN: An important planetary ion escape channel

Y. Dong, X. Fang, D. A. Brain, J. P. McFadden, J. S. Halekas, J. E. Connerney, S. M. Curry, Y. Harada, J. G. Luhmann and B. M. Jakosky

Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.8942-8950

11/16/2015

DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065346

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Abstract

We present observations by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission of a substantial plume-like distribution of escaping ions from the Martian atmosphere, organized by the upstream solar wind convection electric field. From a case study of MAVEN particle-and-field data during one spacecraft orbit, we identified three escaping planetary ion populations: plume fluxes mainly along the upstream electric field over the north pole region of the Mars-Sun-Electric field (MSE) coordinate system, antisunward ion fluxes in the tail region, and much weaker upstream pickup ion fluxes. A statistical study of O+ fluxes using 3 month MAVEN data shows that the plume is a constant structure with strong fluxes widely distributed in the MSE northern hemisphere, which constitutes an important planetary ion escape channel. The escape rate through the plume is estimated to be similar to 30% of the tailward escape and similar to 23% of the total escape for > 25 eV O+ ions.

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

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Title: Subtitle: Strong plume fluxes at Mars observed by MAVEN: An important planetary ion escape channel
Creators: Y. Dong - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
X. Fang - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
D. A. Brain - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
J. P. McFadden - University of California, Berkeley
J. S. Halekas - University of Iowa
J. E. Connerney - Goddard Space Flight Center
S. M. Curry - University of California, Berkeley
Y. Harada - University of California, Berkeley
J. G. Luhmann - University of California, Berkeley
B. M. Jakosky - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.8942-8950
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065346
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: NNX11AN38G / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
Language: English
Date published: 11/16/2015
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428829502771

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