Search Publications
Solar cycle effects on the ion escape from Mars
Barabash, S.; Lundin, R.; Holmström, M. +6 more
Solar cycle effects on the escape of planetary ions from Mars are investigated using Mars Express Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms 3 data from June 2007 to January 2013. Average and median tail fluxes of low-energy (<300 eV) heavy ions (O+, O2+), derived from the full data set covering 7900 orbits, …
A new semiempirical model of the peak electron density of the Martian ionosphere
Withers, Paul; Mendillo, Michael; Morgan, David +2 more
of the ionosphere of Mars have now reached a sufficient number to begin discussions on how best to create an empirically based model of its global morphology. Here we use nearly 113,000 values of maximum electron density (Nmax) obtained from 2005 to 2012 by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding on board the Mar…
Phobos 2/ASPERA data revisited: Planetary ion escape rate from Mars near the 1989 solar maximum
Barabash, Stas; Lundin, Rickard; Nilsson, Hans +4 more
Insights about the near-Mars space environment from Mars Express observations have motivated a revisit of the Phobos 2/ASPERA ion data from 1989. We have expanded the analysis to now include all usable heavy ion (O+, O2+, CO2+) measurements from the circular orbits of Phobos 2. Phobos 2/ASPERA ion fluxes in the Martian tail are compared…
Determining olivine composition of basaltic dunes in Gale Crater, Mars, from orbit: Awaiting ground truth from Curiosity
Christensen, Philip R.; Lane, Melissa D.
successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover in Gale Crater, Mars, presents a rare opportunity for validation of a spectral index developed for determining olivine chemistry from orbital midinfrared remote-sensing data. Here, a spectral index is developed using laboratory emissivity data of 13 synthetic Mg-Fe olivines. Utilizi…
Orbital radar, imagery, and atmospheric modeling reveal an aeolian origin for Abalos Mensa, Mars
Spiga, A.; Holt, J. W.; Brothers, T. C.
Icy deposits surrounding Planum Boreum, Mars, contain crucial information for deciphering paleoclimate and past geologic processes at the martian north pole. One such deposit, Abalos Mensa, is an enigmatic wedge of material located near the ~ 1 km high Rupes Tenuis. Its unique location and lobate morphology have fostered formation hypotheses that …
Intensities of the Martian N2 electron-impact excited dayglow emissions
Fox, Jane L.; Hać, Nicholas E. F.
The first N2 emissions in the Martian dayglow were detected by the SPICAM UV spectrograph on board the Mars Express spacecraft. Intensities of the (0,5) and (0,6) Vegard-Kaplan bands were found to be about one third of those predicted more than 35 years ago. The Vegard-Kaplan band system arises from the transition from the lowest N…