Mars Upper Atmospheric Responses to the 10 September 2017 Solar Flare: A Global, Time-Dependent Simulation

Fang, Xiaohua; Pawlowski, David; Ma, Yingjuan; Bougher, Stephen; Thiemann, Edward; Eparvier, Francis; Wang, Wenbin; Dong, Chuanfei; Lee, Christina O.; Dong, Yaxue; Benna, Mehdi; Elrod, Meredith; Chamberlin, Phillip; Mahaffy, Paul; Jakosky, Bruce

doi:10.1029/2019gl084515

Title: Mars Upper Atmospheric Responses to the 10 September 2017 Solar Flare: A Global, Time-Dependent Simulation

Journal Article · Mon Aug 05 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019gl084515· OSTI ID:1648113

^[1]; Pawlowski, David ^[2];

^[3];

^[4];

^[1];

^[5];

^[6];

^[7];

^[1];

^[8];

^[1];

^[8];

^[1]

Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
Eastern Michigan Univ., Ypsilanti, MI (United States)
Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO (United States)
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States)

Here, we report the first global, time-dependent simulation of the Mars upper atmospheric responses to a realistic solar flare event, an X8.2 eruption on 10 September 2017. The Mars Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model runs with realistically specified flare irradiance, giving results in reasonably good agreement with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft measurements. It is found that the ionized and neutral regimes of the upper atmosphere are significantly disturbed by the flare but react differently. The ionospheric electron density enhancement is concentrated below ~110-km altitude due to enhanced solar X-rays, closely following the time evolution of the flare. The neutral atmospheric perturbation increases with altitude and is important above ~150-km altitude, in association with atmospheric upwelling driven by solar extreme ultraviolet heating. It takes ~2.5 hr past the flare peak to reach the maximum disturbance and then additional ~10 hr to generally settle down to preflare levels.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466; 80NSSC19K0562

OSTI ID:: 1648113

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 46, Issue 16; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 14 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (34)

Mars Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model: Solar cycle, seasonal, and diurnal variations of the Mars upper atmosphere: BOUGHER ET AL. Bougher, S. W.; Pawlowski, D.; Bell, J. M. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol. 120, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JE004715	journal	February 2015
The Mars Topside Ionosphere Response to the X8.2 Solar Flare of 10 September 2017 Thiemann, E. M. B.; Andersson, L.; Lillis, R. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL077730	journal	August 2018
Effects of solar X-ray flares in the E region ionosphere of Mars: First model results: X-RAY FLARES AND MODELING ON MARS Haider, S. A.; McKenna-Lawlor, S. M. P.; Fry, C. D. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 117, Issue A5 https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JA017436	journal	May 2012
Observations and Modeling of the Mars Low-Altitude Ionospheric Response to the 10 September 2017 X-Class Solar Flare Xu, Shaosui; Thiemann, Ed; Mitchell, David Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078524	journal	August 2018
On the responses to solar X-ray flare and coronal mass ejection in the ionospheres of Mars and Earth Haider, S. A.; Abdu, M. A.; Batista, I. S. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 36, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL038694	journal	January 2009
First measurements of composition and dynamics of the Martian ionosphere by MAVEN's Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer: NGIMS OBSERVATIONS OF MARS' IONOSPHERE Benna, M.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Grebowsky, J. M. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 42, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066146	journal	November 2015
Control of Mars global atmospheric loss by the continuous rotation of the crustal magnetic field: A time-dependent MHD study: MARS CRUSTAL FIELD AND ATMOSPHERIC LOSS Fang, Xiaohua; Ma, Yingjuan; Brain, David Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021605	journal	December 2015
Mars mesosphere and thermosphere: 1. Global mean heat budget and thermal structure Bougher, S. W.; Dickinson, R. E. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 93, Issue A7 https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA07p07325	journal	January 1988
The structure and variability of Mars dayside thermosphere from MAVEN NGIMS and IUVS measurements: Seasonal and solar activity trends in scale heights and temperatures Bougher, Stephen W.; Roeten, Kali J.; Olsen, Kirk Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023454	journal	January 2017
Response of the Mars ionosphere to solar flares: Analysis of MGS radio occultation data Fallows, K.; Withers, P.; Gonzalez, G. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021108	journal	November 2015
The MAVEN EUVM model of solar spectral irradiance variability at Mars: Algorithms and results Thiemann, Edward M. B.; Chamberlin, Phillip C.; Eparvier, Francis G. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023512	journal	March 2017
Structure and composition of the neutral upper atmosphere of Mars from the MAVEN NGIMS investigation: STATE OF THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE OF MARS Mahaffy, P. R.; Benna, M.; Elrod, M. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 42, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065329	journal	November 2015
Effects of Solar Flares on the Ionosphere of Mars Mendillo, M. Science, Vol. 311, Issue 5764 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1122099	journal	February 2006
The Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Monitor for MAVEN Eparvier, F. G.; Chamberlin, P. C.; Woods, T. N. Space Science Reviews, Vol. 195, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-015-0195-2	journal	September 2015
Contrasting behavior of the thermosphere and ionosphere in response to the 28 October 2003 solar flare: FLARE EFECT IN EQUATORIAL REGIONS Liu, Huixin; Lühr, Hermann; Watanabe, Shigeto Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 112, Issue A7 https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JA012313	journal	July 2007
Observations of Vertical Reflections from the Topside Martian Ionosphere Nielsen, E.; Zou, H.; Gurnett, D. A. Space Science Reviews, Vol. 126, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-006-9113-y	journal	December 2006
Modeling the thermospheric response to solar flares: THERMOSPHERIC RESPONSE TO FLARES Pawlowski, David J.; Ridley, Aaron J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 113, Issue A10 https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JA013182	journal	October 2008
September 2017 Solar Flare Event: Rapid Heating of the Martian Neutral Upper Atmosphere From the X-Class Flare as Observed by MAVEN Elrod, M. K.; Curry, S. M.; Thiemann, E. M. B. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL077729	journal	September 2018
Variability of thermosphere and ionosphere responses to solar flares: UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESPONSES TO FLARES Qian, Liying; Burns, Alan G.; Chamberlin, Phillip C. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 116, Issue A10 https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JA016777	journal	October 2011
Comparative terrestrial planet thermospheres: 3. Solar cycle variation of global structure and winds at solstices Bougher, S. W.; Engel, S.; Roble, R. G. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol. 105, Issue E7 https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JE001232	journal	July 2000
Radar Soundings of the Ionosphere of Mars Gurnett, D. A. Science, Vol. 310, Issue 5756 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1121868	journal	December 2005
Global thermal inertia and surface properties of Mars from the MGS mapping mission Putzig, N.; Mellon, M.; Kretke, K. Icarus, Vol. 173, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2004.08.017	journal	February 2005
Observations and Impacts of the 10 September 2017 Solar Events at Mars: An Overview and Synthesis of the Initial Results Lee, C. O.; Jakosky, B. M.; Luhmann, J. G. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL079162	journal	September 2018
The global ionosphere–thermosphere model Ridley, A. J.; Deng, Y.; Tóth, G. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Vol. 68, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2006.01.008	journal	May 2006
Ionospheric effects of solar flares at Mars: SOLAR FLARES AND MARS IONOSPHERE Mahajan, K. K.; Lodhi, Neelesh K.; Singh, Sachchidanand Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 36, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL039454	journal	August 2009
Neutral density response to solar flares at Mars: NEUTRAL RESPONSE TO FLARES Thiemann, E. M. B.; Eparvier, F. G.; Andersson, L. A. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 42, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066334	journal	November 2015
The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) Mission Jakosky, B. M.; Lin, R. P.; Grebowsky, J. M. Space Science Reviews, Vol. 195, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-015-0139-x	journal	April 2015
The Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission Mahaffy, Paul R.; Benna, Mehdi; King, Todd Space Science Reviews, Vol. 195, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-014-0091-1	journal	September 2014
Mars thermosphere as seen in MAVEN accelerometer data Zurek, R. W.; Tolson, R. A.; Bougher, S. W. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023641	journal	March 2017
The effects of different solar flare characteristics on the global thermosphere Pawlowski, David J.; Ridley, Aaron J. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Vol. 73, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2011.04.004	journal	August 2011
The importance of pickup oxygen ion precipitation to the Mars upper atmosphere under extreme solar wind conditions: MARS THERMOSPHERIC IMPACT BY PICKUP IONS Fang, Xiaohua; Bougher, Stephen W.; Johnson, Robert E. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 40, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50415	journal	May 2013
Early MAVEN Deep Dip campaign reveals thermosphere and ionosphere variability Bougher, S.; Jakosky, B.; Halekas, J. Science, Vol. 350, Issue 6261 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad0459	journal	November 2015
The Mars crustal magnetic field control of plasma boundary locations and atmospheric loss: MHD prediction and comparison with MAVEN: Global control by Mars crustal field Fang, Xiaohua; Ma, Yingjuan; Masunaga, Kei Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023509	journal	April 2017
Numerical simulations of the ionosphere of Mars during a solar flare: SOLAR FLARES AND THE MARTIAN IONOSPHERE Lollo, Anthony; Withers, Paul; Fallows, Kathryn Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 117, Issue A5 https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JA017399	journal	May 2012

Similar Records

Mars Dust Storm Effects in the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere and Implications for Atmospheric Carbon Loss

Journal Article · Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics · OSTI ID:1648113

Fang, Xiaohua; Ma, Yingjuan; Lee, Yuni; +9 more

Effects of a Solar Flare on the Martian Hot O Corona and Photochemical Escape

Journal Article · Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Geophysical Research Letters · OSTI ID:1648113

Lee, Yuni; Dong, Chuanfei; Pawlowski, Dave; +7 more

Solar cycle variation of the upper atmosphere temperature of Mars

Journal Article · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) · OSTI ID:1648113

Hantsch, M H; Bauer, S J

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
solar flare
Mars
upper atmosphere
ionosphere

Title: Mars Upper Atmospheric Responses to the 10 September 2017 Solar Flare: A Global, Time-Dependent Simulation

Citation Formats

References (34)

Similar Records

Related Subjects