Concurrent observations of ultraviolet aurora and energetic electron precipitation with Mars Express

Gérard, Jean-Claude; Soret, Lauriane; Libert, Ludivine; Lundin, R.; Stiepen, Arnaud; Radioti, Aikaterini; Bertaux, J.-L.

doi:10.1002/2015JA021150

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Concurrent observations of ultraviolet aurora and energetic electron precipitation with Mars Express

Gérard, Jean-Claude; Soret, Lauriane; Libert, Ludivine et al.

2015 • In Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/185999

DOI
10.1002/2015JA021150

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Keywords :

Aurora; Electron; Mars; Precipitation; Ultraviolet

Abstract :

[en] The database of the Spectroscopy for the Investigation of the Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars (SPICAM) instrument between late January 2004 and Mars 2014 has been searched to identify signatures of CO Cameron and CO<inf>2</inf>+ doublet ultraviolet auroral emissions. This study has almost doubled the number of auroral detections based on SPICAM spectra. Auroral emissions are located in the vicinity of the statistical boundary between open and closed field lines. From a total of 113 nightside orbits with SPICAM pointing to the nadir in the region of residual magnetic field, only nine nightside orbits show confirmed auroral signatures, some with multiple detections along the orbital track, leading to a total of 16 detections. The mean energy of the electron energy spectra measured during concurrent Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms/Electron Spectrometer observations ranges from 150 to 280eV. The ultraviolet aurora may be displaced poleward or equatorward of the region of enhanced downward electron energy flux by several tens of seconds and shows no proportionality with the electron flux at the spacecraft altitude. The absence of further UV auroral detection in regions located along crustal magnetic field structures where occasional aurora has been observed indicates that the Mars aurora is a time-dependent feature. These results are consistent with the scenario of acceleration of electrons by transient parallel electric field along semiopen magnetic field lines. © 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Disciplines :

Space science, astronomy & astrophysics

Author, co-author :

Gérard, Jean-Claude ; Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)

Soret, Lauriane ; Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)

Libert, Ludivine ; Université de Liège > CSL (Centre Spatial de Liège)

Lundin, R.; Swedish Institute of Space Physics-Institutet för rymdfysik Kiruna Sweden

Stiepen, Arnaud ; Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)

Radioti, Aikaterini ; Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)

Bertaux, J.-L.; LATMOS CNRS, Université de Versailles St Quentin-en-Yvelines Guyancourt France

Language :

English

Title :

Concurrent observations of ultraviolet aurora and energetic electron precipitation with Mars Express

Publication date :

2015

Journal title :

Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics

ISSN :

2169-9380

eISSN :

2169-9402

Publisher :

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

BELSPO - SPP Politique scientifique - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique

Available on ORBi :

since 16 September 2015

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