Search Publications
Determination of local plasma densities with the MARSIS radar: Asymmetries in the high−altitude Martian ionosphere
Fränz, M.; André, M.; Edberg, N. J. T. +6 more
We present a novel method for the automatic retrieval of local plasma density measurements from the Mars advanced radar for subsurface and ionospheric sounding (MARSIS) active ionospheric sounder (AIS) instrument. The resulting large data set is then used to study the configuration of the Martian ionosphere at altitudes above ∼300 km. An empirical…
Mars ionospheric response to solar wind variability
Fränz, M.; Lester, M.; Edberg, N. J. T. +6 more
planets with induced magnetospheres, the coupling between the ionosphere, the weak draped magnetosphere, and the solar wind is very direct in comparison to Earth. The weak induced magnetosphere itself is created by the prevailing Solar wind conditions and therefore in its shape and strength dynamically depending on it. In early 2010, Mars was loca…
A statistical study of proton precipitation onto the Martian upper atmosphere: Mars Express observations
Barabash, S.; Nilsson, H.; Stenberg, G. +1 more
Due to the small size of the Martian magnetic pile-up region, especially at the subsolar point, heated protons with high enough energy can penetrate the induced magnetosphere boundary without being backscattered, i.e., they precipitate. We present a statistical study of the downgoing ~ keV proton fluxes measured in the Martian ionosphere by the An…
Directionality and variability of energetic neutral hydrogen fluxes observed by Mars Express
Barabash, S.; Futaana, Y.; Grigoriev, A. +2 more
Using data collected by the neutral particle detector of the analyzer of space plasmas and energetic atoms on board Mars Express, we establish the global morphology of hydrogen energetic neutral atom (ENA) fluxes. The observations were conducted in March-July 2004 and reveal that low flux ENAs (<5×105cm-2s-1sr
Statistical properties of planetary heavy-ion precipitations toward the Martian ionosphere obtained from Mars Express
Barabash, Stas; Futaana, Yoshifumi; Seki, Kanako +5 more
The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) embedded in the solar wind interacts with the Martian crustal magnetic field and atmosphere. The IMF orientation is one of the important parameters to control the acceleration and precipitation of planetary heavy ions (PHIs). We statistically investigate the effects of the IMF orientation on PHI precipitatio…
Nighttime ionosphere caused by meteoroid ablation and solar wind electron-proton-hydrogen impact on Mars: MEX observation and modeling
Haider, S. A.; Pandya, B. M.; Molina-Cuberos, G. J.
report that radio science (RS) experiment onboard Mars Express (MEX) has observed three plasma layers in the nighttime ionosphere of Mars at altitudes ~80-100 km, ~120 km, and ~160 km, which are reproduced by model calculation due to impact of meteoroid, solar wind proton, and electron, respectively. The densities of 21 ions (Mg+, Fe
Reduced proton and alpha particle precipitations at Mars during solar wind pressure pulses: Mars Express results
Barabash, S.; Nilsson, H.; Stenberg, G. +2 more
We performed a statistical study of downward moving protons and alpha particles of ~keV energy (assumed to be of solar wind origin) inside the Martian induced magnetosphere from July 2006 to July 2010. Ion and electron data are from the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) package on board Mars Express. We investigated the solar…
He2+ transport in the Martian upper atmosphere with an induced magnetic field
Barabash, S.; Stenberg, G.; Shematovich, V. I. +3 more
wind helium may be a significant source of neutral helium in the Martian atmosphere. The precipitating particles also transfer mass, energy, and momentum. To investigate the transport of He2+ in the upper atmosphere of Mars, we have applied the direct simulation Monte Carlo method to solve the kinetic equation. We calculate the upward H…
Correction to "Variation of the Martian ionospheric electron density from Mars Express radar soundings"
Gurnett, D. A.; Morgan, D. D.; Plaut, J. J. +3 more