Martian Magnetic Topology: Evaluation of Crustal Magnetization and Solar Wind Interaction Models Using MGS MAG Data

Details Martian Magnetic Topology: Evaluation of Crustal Magnetization and Solar Wind Interaction Models Using MGS MAG Data Martian Magnetic Topology: Evaluation of Crustal Magnetization and Solar Wind Interaction Models Using MGS MAG Data

May 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agusm..gp22a08b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2001, abstract #GP22A-08

Mathematics

Logic

2780 Solar Wind Interactions With Unmagnetized Bodies, 5421 Interactions With Particles And Fields, 5443 Magnetospheres (2756), 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

Results from the MAG/ER experiment aboard Mars Global Surveyor indicate that the magnetic topology near Mars is governed both by the interaction of the solar wind with the Martian obstacle and by regions of magnetized crust. Consequently, the arrangement of magnetic field lines near Mars depends upon solar wind conditions, solar wind magnetic field orientation, and planetary local time. At present there are no models for the magnetic environment of Mars that account for both internal (crustal) and external (solar wind) contributions to magnetic field measurements. However there are a variety of models that account for either crustal magnetization or the solar wind interaction. At the same time a wealth of data has been returned by MGS MAG that could be used to topologically evaluate these models. We compare MGS MAG data to different available models for Martian magnetic topology. We use pre-mapping and mapping data below 1000 km altitudes to evaluate a global crustal magnetization model by Purucker et al. and a local magnetization model by Connerney et al. Similarly, we compare MAG data to the Spreiter and Stahara gas dynamic model for the Martian solar wind interaction. We look specifically for where and under what conditions the models provide reliable estimates of the magnetic field measured by MAG. Our efforts are directed toward the construction of a superposition of magnetic field models that is topologically supported by MAG data. We show the results of a preliminary attempt at such a superposition that combines the model of Purucker et al. with different external fields. We apply this combined model at different planetary local times and create animations of Martian magnetic field topology as Mars rotates. We find that magnetic field lines associated with crustal sources reconnect to the solar wind under different conditions, providing conduits for particle deposition into the Martian atmosphere.

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