How the Martian Magnetic Anomalies Reduce the Planetary Ion Source

The present paper uses the Mars Express Ion spectrometer IMA data to check the spatial distribution of the planetary origin ions populating the induced magnetosphere of Mars. It was shown that there are two main planetary ions sources located: 1) in the region of the magnetosphere current sheet, 2) in the ring-shape region contouring the planet ionosphere. The planetary ions in the current sheet (source 1) are quickly accelerated up to several keV energy by JxB force, while ring shape (source 2) distributed ions reach just several tens eV. A statistical study of the planetary ion distribution taking into account location of Martian magnetic anomalies shows that planetary ions fill the magnetosphere in the regions free of the magnetic anomalies only. We can see that magnetic anomalies create small magnetospheres that protect ionospheric ions from the escape. This mechanism works well for both ion sources.