Observations of magnetic anomaly signatures in Mars Express ASPERA-3 ELS data

Y. Soobiah*, A. J. Coates, D. R. Linder, D. O. Kataria, J. D. Winningham, R. A. Frahm, J. R. Sharber, J. R. Scherrer, S. Barabash, R. Lundin, M. Holmström, H. Andersson, M. Yamauchi, A. Grigoriev, E. Kallio, H. Koskinen, T. Säles, P. Riihelä, W. Schmidt, J. KozyraJ. Luhmann, E. Roelof, D. Williams, S. Livi, C. C. Curtis, K. C. Hsieh, B. R. Sandel, M. Grande, M. Carter, J. A. Sauvaud, A. Fedorov, J. J. Thocaven, S. McKenna-Lawler, S. Orsini, R. Cerulli-Irelli, M. Maggi, P. Wurz, P. Bochsler, N. Krupp, J. Woch, M. Fränz, K. Asamura, C. Dierker

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mars Express (MEX) Analyser of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) data is providing insights into atmospheric loss on Mars via the solar wind interaction. This process is influenced by both the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the solar wind and by the magnetic 'anomaly' regions of the martian crust. We analyse observations from the ASPERA-3 Electron Spectrometer near to such crustal anomalies. We find that the electrons near remanent magnetic fields either increase in flux to form intensified signatures or significantly reduce in flux to form plasma voids. We suggest that cusps intervening neighbouring magnetic anomalies may provide a location for enhanced escape of planetary plasma. Initial statistical analysis shows that intensified signatures are mainly a dayside phenomenon whereas voids are a feature of the night hemisphere.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)396-405
Number of pages10
JournalIcarus
Volume182
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2006

Keywords

  • Magnetic fields
  • Mars
  • Solar wind

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