Journal article
The Modulation of Solar Wind Hydrogen Deposition in the Martian Atmosphere by Foreshock Phenomena
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.124(8), pp.7086-7097
08/2019
DOI: 10.1029/2019JA026938
Abstract
The neutral exosphere of Mars extends far upstream beyond the bow shock, and as a result, solar wind protons can charge exchange with this neutral exosphere to produce energetic neutral atoms. Energetic neutral atoms produced directly upstream of Mars will precipitate into the Martian dayside atmosphere, where some fraction can undergo a charge stripping reaction and can be observed as “penetrating protons.” Clear, quasiperiodic modulations in penetrating proton densities are observed during certain Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) periapsis passes, and we show that these modulations occur during radial interplanetary magnetic field conditions. During such times, the region sunward of Mars is defined by quasi‐parallel shock conditions, generating foreshock structures characterized by enhancements in magnetic field strength, enhancements in proton density, and deceleration and deflection of the solar wind flow. These structures are observed at time cadences equal to the modulation of penetrating proton densities at periapsis. Particle tracing simulations show that the convection of these structures with the solar wind leads to localized enhancements in the rate of charge exchange upstream of the shock, producing the observed temporal variations in penetrating proton densities at periapsis. The observation of modulated penetrating proton densities at periapsis can thus be used to infer the existence of radial interplanetary magnetic field conditions upstream of the bow shock at Mars at times when MAVEN does not sample the upstream solar wind.
Key Points
The modulation of hydrogen deposition at periapsis is due to enhancements in the rate of charge exchange upstream of the Martian bow shock
Convecting foreshock structures observed during radial IMF conditions drives the modulation of hydrogen deposition in the atmosphere
The modulation of deposited solar wind hydrogen densities at periapsis can be used to infer the presence of radial IMF conditions at Mars
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Modulation of Solar Wind Hydrogen Deposition in the Martian Atmosphere by Foreshock Phenomena
- Creators
- C. M. Fowler - University of California, BerkeleyJ. Halekas - University of IowaS. Schwartz - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsK. A. Goodrich - University of California, BerkeleyJ. R. Gruesbeck - Goddard Space Flight CenterM. Benna - Goddard Space Flight Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.124(8), pp.7086-7097
- DOI
- 10.1029/2019JA026938
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (NNH10CC04C)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2019
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984428807702771
Metrics
1 Record Views