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Plasma Observations During the Mars Atmospheric Plume Event of March-April 2012We present initial analysis and conclusions from plasma observations made during the reported Mars Dust plume event of March - April 2012. During this period, multiple independent amateur observers detected a localized, high-altitude plume over the Martian dawn terminator [Sanchez-Lavega7 et al., Nature, 2015, doi:10.1038nature14162], the origin of which remains to be explained. We report on in-situ measurements of ionospheric plasma density and solar wind parameters throughout this interval made by Mars Express, obtained over the surface region, but at the opposing terminator. We tentatively conclude that the formation and/or transport of this plume to the altitudes where it was observed could be due in part the result of a large interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) encountering the Martian system. Interestingly, we note that a similar plume detection in May 1997 may also have been associated with a large ICME impact at Mars.
Document ID
20170002636
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Accepted Manuscript (Version with final changes)
Authors
D J Andrews ORCID(Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna, Sweden)
S. Barabash (Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna, Sweden)
N J T Edberg (Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna, Sweden)
D A Gurnett (University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, United States)
B E S Hall (University of Leicester Leicester, United Kingdom)
M Holmstrom ORCID(Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna, Sweden)
M Lester (University of Leicester Leicester, United Kingdom)
D D Morgan (University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, United States)
H J Opgenoorth (Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna, Sweden)
R Ramstad (Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna, Sweden)
B Sanchez-Cano (University of Leicester Leicester, United Kingdom)
M Way ORCID(Goddard Institute for Space Studies New York, New York, United States)
O Witasse (European Space Agency Paris, France)
Date Acquired
March 29, 2017
Publication Date
March 21, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 121
Issue: 4
Issue Publication Date: April 1, 2016
ISSN: 2169-9380
e-ISSN: 2169-9402
DOI: 10.1002/2015JA022023
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN30869
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 811073.02.10.03.10
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Technical Review
Professional Review
Keywords
Plumes
Mars (planet)
Plumes
Plasma physics

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