Modeling of D and E region of Mars's ionosphere for flare and non-flare electron density profiles
Abstract
Solar X-ray flare responses in the E region of Mars' ionosphere were observed from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) on 6 April, 2001 and 17 March, 2003. We have developed a coupled model for the calculation of Ionospheric Electron Content (IEC), flare and non-flare electron density profiles due to impact of X-rays (0.5-90 Å) and Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) in the D and E regions of Mars' ionosphere simultaneously. In the non-flare profile the D layer is produced at 25 km due to impact of GCR and hard X-rays (0.5-3 Å) with electron densities 1.0 x 10$ ^{2}$ cm$ ^{-3}$ and 8 x 10$ ^{2}$ cm$ ^{-3}$ respectively while E layer is produced at 100 -110 km with electron density ~ 4-5 x 104 cm-3 due to impact of soft X-rays (3-90 Å). The D flare peak is produced at 30 km with electron density ~ 2- 4 x 10$ ^{4}$ cm$ ^{-3}$. The E flare peak is produced at 100 km with electron density 1-2 x 10$ ^{5}$ cm$ ^{-3}$. The predicted flare E-peak density is higher by a factor of ~2 than the measurements carried out by MGS. The D peak density of flare profile is larger by 1-2 orders of magnitude than that produced for non-flare profiles. Our model discovered that hard X-ray is a major source of the D layer in the Martian ionosphere.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E.758S