Two distinct current systems in the ionosphere of Mars

Jiawei Gao (), Shibang Li, Anna Mittelholz, Zhaojin Rong (), Moa Persson, Zhen Shi, Haoyu Lu, Chi Zhang, Xiaodong Wang, Chuanfei Dong, Lucy Klinger, Jun Cui, Yong Wei and Yongxin Pan
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Jiawei Gao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shibang Li: Beihang University
Anna Mittelholz: ETH Zurich
Zhaojin Rong: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Moa Persson: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Zhen Shi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Haoyu Lu: Beihang University
Chi Zhang: Boston University
Xiaodong Wang: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Chuanfei Dong: Boston University
Lucy Klinger: Fudan University
Jun Cui: Sun Yat-sen University
Yong Wei: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yongxin Pan: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract When the solar wind interacts with the ionosphere of an unmagnetized planet, it induces currents that form an induced magnetosphere. These currents and their associated magnetic fields play a pivotal role in controlling the movement of charged particles, which is essential for understanding the escape of planetary ions. Unlike the well-documented magnetospheric current systems, the ionospheric current systems driven by solar wind and atmospheric neutral winds have not been quantitatively observed, which constrains the quantification of energy transfer from stars to these planets. Here, utilizing eight years of data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, we investigate the global distribution of ionospheric currents on Mars. We identify two distinct current systems in the ionosphere: one aligns with the solar wind electric field but exhibits hemispheric asymmetry perpendicular to the solar wind electric field direction; the other corresponds to the flow pattern of annually averaged neutral winds. We propose that these two current systems are driven by the solar wind and atmospheric neutral winds, respectively. Our findings reveal that Martian ionospheric dynamics are influenced by the neutral winds from below and the solar wind from above, highlighting the complex and intriguing nature of current systems on unmagnetized planets.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54073-9

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