Planets and Moons  ID: 4730

MAVEN – Mars Electric Current Systems

Visualizations by Cindy Starr Released on May 25, 2020
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The current systems formed around Mars as a result of a solar wind driven convective electric field

(Note: These frame sets were converted to the sRGB color space on 6/16/2020)

This video is also available on our YouTube channel.

Unlike the Earth, Mars lacks a global magnetic dipole. Because its upper atmosphere is ionized by solar X-rays and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiations, the ionosphere of Mars presents a highly conductive obstacle to the flow of the magnetized solar wind plasma. The resulting interaction induces electric currents in the ionosphere which, in turn, create sufficient magnetic pressure to slow and deflect the solar wind around the bulk of the ionosphere, forming an induced magnetosphere.

NASA scientists used magnetic field measurements from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatiles EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter to make the first quantitative global map of the induced currents that shape the Martian induced magnetosphere. In doing so they found strong asymmetries between the north-south electric-polar hemispheres, particularly in the concentration of sunward currents, an electric connection between the planet's ionosphere and its bow shock, as well as a twist in the global near-Mars current system. Mapping the currents reveals how the solar wind's energy transfers into the induced magnetosphere where it powers escape of the Martian atmosphere.

Here we show visualizations of the actual and the idealized current systems that are formed as a result of a solar wind driven convective electric field. In addition, a sequence of calculated magnetic fields measured by MAVEN shown here illustrates that magnetic fields are forced to wrap around the planet by currents induced in Mars’ ionosphere.
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An average magnetic field around Mars has been calculated from MAVEN measurements. The sequence of these magnetic fields shown here illustrates that magnetic fields are forced to wrap around the plant by currents induced in Mars’ ionosphere. The calculated MAVEN magnetic field is not time-varying, but this sequence illustrates how solar wind magnetic fields are changed as they move past Mars. The direction of the solar wind emanating from the sun is represented by a yellow arrow.

(Note: This frame set was converted to the sRGB color space on 6/16/2020)

This video is also available on our YouTube channel.

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This animation shows the same sequence of magnetic fields as the previous animation, but all the fields (except one) are shown as semi-transparent to emphasize the fact that they all represent a single magnetic field configuration.

(Note: This frame set was converted to the sRGB color space on 6/16/2020)

This video is also available on our YouTube channel.

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An image of the sun-facing view of the Mars current system with transparency
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An image of a side-facing view of the Mars current system with transparency
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An image of a side-facing view of the Mars current system with the bow shock and IMB with transparency
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An image of the Mars current system from the dark side with transparency
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An image of the Mars current system from the dark side with the bow shock and IMB with transparency
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The bow shock (BS) and induce magnetosphere boundary (IMB) of Mars

(Note: These frame sets were converted to the sRGB color space on 6/16/2020)

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The actual detailed electric currents measured by the MAVEN orbiter

(Note: These frame sets were converted to the sRGB color space on 6/16/2020)

This video is also available on our YouTube channel.

 

Used Elsewhere In

SVS Demo Reel 2020
First Map of Mars Electric Currents

Related

Destination Mars! On February 18 NASA’s Newest and Most Ambitious Rover Lands on the Red Planet
MAVEN Observes Solar Particle Velocities and the Induced Magnetic Field
MAVEN – Mars and Solar Wind Simulation

Visualization Credits

Lead Visualizer:
Cindy Starr (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)

Data Visualizers:
Horace Mitchell (NASA/GSFC)
Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)

Scientists:
David Brain (University of Colorado Boulder)
Robin Ramstad (University of Colorado Boulder)
Yaxue Dong (LASP)
Jared Espley (NASA/GSFC)
Bruce Jakosky (LASP)
Jasper Halekas (University of Iowa)

Producer:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)

Project Support:
Leann Johnson (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)
Eric Sokolowsky (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)

Technical Support:
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Science Paper:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1099-y

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4730

Data Used:
MAVEN/MAG/Magnetic Field Vectors
Observed Data
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MAVEN/SWIA/Ion Fluxes
Observed Data
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Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
SVS >> Magnetic Fields
SVS >> Mars
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Sun-earth Interactions >> Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Dynamics >> Magnetic Fields/magnetic Currents

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0