Episodic detachment of Martian crustal magnetic fields leading to bulk atmospheric plasma escape

Details Episodic detachment of Martian crustal magnetic fields leading to bulk atmospheric plasma escape Episodic detachment of Martian crustal magnetic fields leading to bulk atmospheric plasma escape

Jul 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010georl..3714108b&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 37, Issue 14, CiteID L14108

Physics

10

Magnetospheric Physics: Solar Wind Interactions With Unmagnetized Bodies, Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Mars, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Magnetospheres (2756), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Ionospheres (2459)

Scientific paper

We present an analysis of magnetic field and suprathermal electron measurements from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft that reveals isolated magnetic structures filled with Martian atmospheric plasma located downstream from strong crustal magnetic fields with respect to the flowing solar wind. The structures are characterized by magnetic field enhancements and rotations characteristic of magnetic flux ropes, and characteristic ionospheric electron energy distributions with angular distributions distinct from surrounding regions. These observations indicate that significant amounts of atmosphere are intermittently being carried away from Mars by a bulk removal process: the top portions of crustal field loops are stretched through interaction with the solar wind and detach via magnetic reconnection. This process occurs frequently and may account for as much as 10% of the total present-day ion escape from Mars.

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