Journal article
The Effect of Solar Wind Variations on the Escape of Oxygen Ions From Mars Through Different Channels: MAVEN Observations
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.122(11), pp.11,285-11,301
11/2017
DOI: 10.1002/2017JA024741
Abstract
We present multi-instrument observations of the effects of solar wind on ion escape fluxes on Mars based on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) data from 1 November 2014 to 15 May 2016. Losses of oxygen ions through different channels (plasma sheet, magnetic lobes, boundary layer, and ion plume) as a function of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field variations were studied. We have utilized the modified Mars Solar Electric (MSE) coordinate system for separation of the different escape routes. Fluxes of the low-energy (≤30 eV) and high-energy (≥30 eV) ions reveal different trends with changes in the solar wind dynamic pressure, the solar wind flux, and the motional electric field. Major oxygen fluxes occur through the tail of the induced magnetosphere. The solar wind motional electric field produces an asymmetry in the ion fluxes and leads to different relations between ion fluxes supplying the tail from the different hemispheres and the solar wind dynamic pressure (or flux) and the motional electric field. The main driver for escape of the high-energy oxygen ions is the solar wind flux (or dynamic pressure). On the other hand, the low-energy ion component shows the opposite trend: ion flux decreases with increasing solar wind flux. As a result, the averaged total oxygen ion fluxes reveal a low variability with the solar wind strength. The large standard deviations from the averages values of the escape fluxes indicate the existence of mechanisms which can enhance or suppress the efficiency of the ion escape. It is shown that the Martian magnetosphere possesses the properties of a combined magnetosphere which contains different classes of field lines. The existence of the closed magnetic field lines in the near-Mars tail might be responsible for suppression of the ion escape fluxes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Effect of Solar Wind Variations on the Escape of Oxygen Ions From Mars Through Different Channels: MAVEN Observations
- Creators
- E Dubinin - Max Planck SocietyM Fraenz - Max Planck SocietyM Pätzold - Rheinisches Institut fuer Umweltforschung, Abteilung Planetforschung Cologne GermanyJ McFadden - University of California, BerkeleyJ. S Halekas - University of IowaG. A DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight CenterJ. E. P Connerney - Goddard Space Flight CenterF Eparvier - University of Colorado BoulderD Brain - University of Colorado BoulderB. M Jakosky - University of Colorado BoulderO Vaisberg - Institute of Space Research Moscow RussiaL Zelenyi - Institute of Space Research Moscow Russia
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.122(11), pp.11,285-11,301
- DOI
- 10.1002/2017JA024741
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration; DOI: 10.13039/501100001659, name: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; DOI: 10.13039/501100002946, name: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, award: 50QM1703; DOI: 10.13039/501100006769, name: Russian Science Foundation, award: 16-42-01 103
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/2017
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984200029902771
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