Mars Magnetism

The Mars Global Surveyor Magnetic Field Investigation (PI: Acuna) has mapped the crustal magnetic field with unprecedented signal fidelity and resolution from its 400 km altitude orbit. The crust is intensely magnetized, at least an order of magnitude more intensley magnetized than Earth's, and even from orbital altitude one recognizes order in the spatial variation of the magnetic field. We discuss models of the crustal field and implications for crustal evolution and the Mars dynamo. We also discuss how best to follow up on the early Mars discoveries, making magnetic field observations on a scale applicable to geological features on Mars, to greatly increase the interpretative power of magnetic field data.