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Electron Temperatures in Mars Crustal Magnetic Fields

Marcin Pilinski
Laila Andersson
First Author's Affiliation
CU/LASP
Abstract text:

The Martian ionosphere is highly variable with a diverse set of sources of variability. Ion-neutral coupling effects electron temperatures through a variety of mechanisms including gravity wave and tidal coupling as well as CO2 cooling. Magnetic effects have also been identified including an ionospheric uplift in the region of Mars' isolated crustal magnetic fields. The source of this uplift is not yet fully understood. In this poster, we examine seven years of data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) including (a) electron temperatures measured by Langmuir probe and waves (LPW), (b) neutral pressures measured by the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS), (c) and the magnetic field from the MAVEN magnetometer. The region of interest includes altitudes where ions are demagnetized (<200 km) as well as where electrons begin to be demagnetized (<150 km). Ionospheric electron temperatures are organized by magnetic and neutral pressure. Preliminary analysis indicates that electron temperatures are enhanced at low neutral pressures (higher altitudes). We also find that, below this enhancement region, there exists an electron temperature minimum. Finally, we investigate the various sources of electron temperature enhancements and depletions including particle precipitation and ionospheric uplift.

Non-Student
Poster category
PLAN - Planetary Studies