Structure of Mercury's magnetosphere during MESSENGER's first three months in orbit

Details Structure of Mercury's magnetosphere during MESSENGER's first three months in orbit Structure of Mercury's magnetosphere during MESSENGER's first three months in orbit

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p41a1599b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P41A-1599

Physics

[2716] Magnetospheric Physics / Energetic Particles: Precipitating, [2753] Magnetospheric Physics / Numerical Modeling, [2784] Magnetospheric Physics / Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions, [6235] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mercury

Scientific paper

Since entering orbit around Mercury on 18 March 2011, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft has been providing regularly spaced (12-hour period) snapshots of the Mercury's magnetosphere. To help analyze the wealth of data recorded by the spacecraft's Magnetometer (MAG), Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer (FIPS), and Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS) during the first 90 days in orbit, we computed global models of the magnetosphere for the relevant average interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions seen during each orbit. These global models are generated using a bi-fluid Hall magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) scheme for several plausible solar wind ram pressures. With these models, we show that the morphology of Mercury's magnetosphere often undergoes marked reconfiguration between successive spacecraft passes. These reconfigurations affect not only the distributions and energetics of charged particles, but also the geographical location and extent of space-weathering processes on the planet's surface. We also show that during times dominated by southward IMF, the magnetosphere is highly compressed, often exposing the subsolar surface to direct solar wind precipitation.

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