Statistical Study on the Solar Wind Turbulence Spectra Upstream of Mars

Abstract

We statistically analyze the power spectral density (PSD) of magnetic field turbulence in the upstream solar wind of the Martian bow shock by investigating the data from Tianwen-1 and Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) during 2021 November 13 and December 31. The spectral indices and break frequencies of these PSDs are automatically identified. According to the profiles of the PSDs, we find that they could be classified into three types: A, B, and C. Only less than a quarter of the events exhibit characteristics similar to the 1 au PSDs (Type A). We observe the energy injection in more than one-third of the events (Type B), and the injected energy usually results in the steeper spectral indices of the dissipation ranges. We find the absence of the dissipation range in over one third of the PSDs (Type C), which is likely due to the dissipation occurring at higher frequencies rather than proton cyclotron resonant frequencies. We also find that the two spacecraft observed different types of PSDs in more than half of the investigated episodes, indicating significant variability upstream of the Martian bow shock. For example, the Type-B PSDs are more often seen by Tianwen-1, which was near the flank of the bow shock, than by MAVEN near the nose. This statistical study demonstrates the complicated turbulent environment of the solar wind upstream of the Martian bow shock.