Unusual electron density profiles observed by Cassini radio occultations in Titan's ionosphere: Effects of enhanced magnetospheric electron precipitation?
Cravens, T. E.; Rymer, A. M.; Richard, M. S.; Nagy, A. F.; Kliore, A. J.
United States
Abstract
The Cassini radio science facility provided 13 occultation electron density profiles of Titan during the period of 2006 and 2009. This paper presents the results of all of these occultation observations. It shows that ten of the observed electron density profiles are similar, but three are significantly different. The number of observations is relatively small for meaningful statistical conclusions, but it is shown, using the corresponding measured electron spectra, that the three anomalous profiles in the ionospheric peak regions are likely to be the result of unusually intense electron precipitation events.