Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transport
The plasma transport process is important for the ionosphere of Mars, which controls the structure of the ionosphere above an altitude of 200 km. Plasma transport from the dayside ionosphere is crucial for producing the nightside ionosphere on Mars. The alteration in dayside plasma transport in the...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2023.1162005/full |
| _version_ | 1827960901687312384 |
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| author | Guokan Li Haoyu Lu Haoyu Lu Yun Li Yun Li Yihui Song Jinbin Cao Jinbin Cao Shibang Li |
| author_facet | Guokan Li Haoyu Lu Haoyu Lu Yun Li Yun Li Yihui Song Jinbin Cao Jinbin Cao Shibang Li |
| author_sort | Guokan Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The plasma transport process is important for the ionosphere of Mars, which controls the structure of the ionosphere above an altitude of 200 km. Plasma transport from the dayside ionosphere is crucial for producing the nightside ionosphere on Mars. The alteration in dayside plasma transport in the presence of crustal fields may influence the distribution of Martian ionospheric plasma and plasma escape in the magnetotail. This study employed a three-dimensional multispecies magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to simulate Mars-solar wind interactions. We show the magnetic field distribution and plasma velocity variation on the Martian day-side. The results indicate that the ion transport from low- to high-solar-zenith-angle areas in the south is inhibited by crustal fields, leading to a reduction in the ion number density and a thinner ionosphere near the southern terminator. Many heavy ions remain in the southern dayside ionosphere rather than moving to the nightside. In addition, the maximum reduction in the tailward flux of the planetary ions calculated by the MHD simulation is more than 50% at the southern terminator, indicating an inhibitory effect of the crustal fields on day-to-night transport. These effects may lead to a reduction in ion number density in the southern nightside ionosphere. Finally, we demonstrate a decrease in the global heavy-ion loss rate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:17:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9843e8d5a2b1412fa0a9040d1b665868 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-987X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:17:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-9843e8d5a2b1412fa0a9040d1b6658682023-04-24T04:31:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences2296-987X2023-04-011010.3389/fspas.2023.11620051162005Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transportGuokan Li0Haoyu Lu1Haoyu Lu2Yun Li3Yun Li4Yihui Song5Jinbin Cao6Jinbin Cao7Shibang Li8School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Environment Monitoring and Information Processing, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Environment Monitoring and Information Processing, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Environment Monitoring and Information Processing, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, ChinaThe plasma transport process is important for the ionosphere of Mars, which controls the structure of the ionosphere above an altitude of 200 km. Plasma transport from the dayside ionosphere is crucial for producing the nightside ionosphere on Mars. The alteration in dayside plasma transport in the presence of crustal fields may influence the distribution of Martian ionospheric plasma and plasma escape in the magnetotail. This study employed a three-dimensional multispecies magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to simulate Mars-solar wind interactions. We show the magnetic field distribution and plasma velocity variation on the Martian day-side. The results indicate that the ion transport from low- to high-solar-zenith-angle areas in the south is inhibited by crustal fields, leading to a reduction in the ion number density and a thinner ionosphere near the southern terminator. Many heavy ions remain in the southern dayside ionosphere rather than moving to the nightside. In addition, the maximum reduction in the tailward flux of the planetary ions calculated by the MHD simulation is more than 50% at the southern terminator, indicating an inhibitory effect of the crustal fields on day-to-night transport. These effects may lead to a reduction in ion number density in the southern nightside ionosphere. Finally, we demonstrate a decrease in the global heavy-ion loss rate.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2023.1162005/fullcrustal magnetic fieldsthree-dimensional multispecies magnetohydrodynamic modelMars-solar wind interactionsplasma transportion escape |
| spellingShingle | Guokan Li Haoyu Lu Haoyu Lu Yun Li Yun Li Yihui Song Jinbin Cao Jinbin Cao Shibang Li Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transport Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences crustal magnetic fields three-dimensional multispecies magnetohydrodynamic model Mars-solar wind interactions plasma transport ion escape |
| title | Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transport |
| title_full | Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transport |
| title_fullStr | Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transport |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transport |
| title_short | Influence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the Mars-solar wind interaction and plasma transport |
| title_sort | influence of the martian crustal magnetic fields on the mars solar wind interaction and plasma transport |
| topic | crustal magnetic fields three-dimensional multispecies magnetohydrodynamic model Mars-solar wind interactions plasma transport ion escape |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2023.1162005/full |
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