Mars' Ionospheric Interaction With Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring's Coma at Their Closest Approach as Seen by Mars Express

Sanchez-Cano, BeatrizUniv Leicester, Dept Phys & Astron, Radio & Space Plasma Phys Grp, Leicester, Leics, England. (författare)

On 19 October 2014, Mars experienced a close encounter with Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring. Using data from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) on board Mars Express (MEX), we assess the interaction of the Martian ionosphere with the comet's coma and possibly magnetic tail during the orbit of their closest approach. The topside ionospheric electron density profile is evaluated from the altitude of the peak density of the ionosphere up to the MEX altitude. We find complex and rapid variability in the ionospheric profile along the MEX orbit, not seen even after the impact of a large coronal mass ejection. Before closest approach, large electron density reductions predominate, which could be caused either by comet water damping or comet magnetic field interactions. After closest approach, a substantial electron density rise predominates. Moreover, several extra topside layers are visible along the whole orbit at different altitudes, which could be related to different processes as we discuss.

Lester, MarkUniv Leicester, Dept Phys & Astron, Radio & Space Plasma Phys Grp, Leicester, Leics, England. (författare)
Witasse, OlivierEuropean Space Agcy, ESTEC Sci Support Off, Noordwijk, Netherlands. (författare)
Morgan, David D.Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA. (författare)
Opgenoorth, Hermann J.Umeå universitet,Institutionen för fysik,Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK,Univ Leicester, Dept Phys & Astron, Radio & Space Plasma Phys Grp, Leicester, Leics, England.;Umea Univ, Dept Phys, Umea, Sweden.(Swepub:umu)heop0005 (författare)
Andrews, David J.Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen(Swepub:uu)davan153 (författare)
Blelly, Pierre-LouisInst Rech Astrophys & Planetol IRAP, Toulouse, France. (författare)
Cowley, Stanley W. H.Univ Leicester, Dept Phys & Astron, Radio & Space Plasma Phys Grp, Leicester, Leics, England. (författare)
Kopf, Andrew J.Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA. (författare)
Leblanc, FrancoisSorbonne Univ, CNRS, UVSQ, LATMOS, Paris, France. (författare)
Espley, Jared R.NASA, Goddard Space Flight Ctr, Greenbelt, MD USA. (författare)
Cardesin-Moinelo, AlejandroEuropean Space Agcy, ESAC, Madrid, Spain. (författare)
Univ Leicester, Dept Phys & Astron, Radio & Space Plasma Phys Grp, Leicester, Leics, England.European Space Agcy, ESTEC Sci Support Off, Noordwijk, Netherlands. (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics: American Geophysical Union (AGU)125:12169-93802169-9402

Av författaren/redakt...: Sanchez-Cano, Be ...; Lester, Mark; Witasse, Olivier; Morgan, David D.; Opgenoorth, Herm ...; Andrews, David J ...; visa fler...; Blelly, Pierre-L ...; Cowley, Stanley ...; Kopf, Andrew J.; Leblanc, Francoi ...; Espley, Jared R.; Cardesin-Moinelo ...; visa färre...

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