Global distribution, structure, and solar wind control of low altitude current sheets at Mars

Details Global distribution, structure, and solar wind control of low altitude current sheets at Mars Global distribution, structure, and solar wind control of low altitude current sheets at Mars

Mar 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010icar..206...64h&link_type=abstract

Icarus, Volume 206, Issue 1, p. 64-73.

Other

1

Scientific paper

We present the results of the first systematic survey of current sheets encountered by Mars Global Surveyor in its ˜400 km mapping orbit. We utilize an automated procedure to identify over 10,000 current sheet crossings during the ˜8 year mapping mission. The majority of these lie on the nightside and in the polar regions, but we also observe over 1800 current sheets at solar zenith angle <60°. The distribution and orientation of current sheets and their dependence on solar wind drivers suggests that most magnetotail current sheets have a local induced magnetospheric origin caused by magnetic field draping. On the other hand, most current sheets observed on the day side likely result from solar wind discontinuities advected through the martian system. However, the clustering of low altitude dayside current sheet crossings around the perimeters of strongly magnetized crustal regions, and the smaller than expected rotations in the IMF draping direction, suggest that crustal magnetic fields may also play an indirect role in their formation. The apparent thicknesses of martian current sheets, and the characteristics of electrons observed in and around the current sheets, suggest one of two possibilities. Martian current sheets at low altitudes are either stationary, with thicknesses of a few hundred km and currents carried by low energy (<10 eV) electrons, or they move at tens of km/s, with thicknesses of a few thousand km and currents carried by ions.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Global distribution, structure, and solar wind control of low altitude current sheets at Mars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Global distribution, structure, and solar wind control of low altitude current sheets at Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Global distribution, structure, and solar wind control of low altitude current sheets at Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-883402