Mars Nightside Ionospheric Response During the Disappearing Solar Wind Event: First Results

Abstract

We investigated, for the first time, the impact of the disappearing solar wind (DSW) event [26–28 December 2022] on the deep nightside ionospheric species using MAVEN data sets. An enhanced plasma density has been observed in the Martian nightside ionosphere during extreme low solar wind density and pressure periods. At a given altitude, the electron density surged by ∼2.5 times, while for ions (NO⁺, O₂⁺, CO₂⁺, C⁺, N⁺, O⁺, and OH⁺), it enhanced by > 10 times, respectively, compared to their typical average quiet-time periods. This investigation suggests that an upward ionospheric expansion likely took place in a direct consequence to the contrasting low dynamic/magnetic pressure and relatively higher nightside ionospheric pressure (by 1–2 orders) causing an increased ionospheric density. Moreover, the day-to-night plasma transport may also be a contributing factor to the increased plasma density. Thus, this study offers a new insight about planetary atmosphere/ionosphere during extreme quiescent solar wind periods.