Interplanetary magnetic field control of the Mars bow shock: Evidence for Venuslike interaction

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01099· OSTI ID:5224461

Zhang, T L; Schwingenschuh, K; Lichtenegger, H; Riedler, W ^[1]; Russell, C T; Luhmann, J G ^[2]

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1. Space Research Inst. of the Austrian Academy, Graz (Austria)
2. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

The Mars bow shock location and shape have been determined by examining the PHOBOS spacecraft magnetometer data. Observations show that the position of the terminator bow shock varies with interplanetary magnetic field orientation in the same way as at Venus. The shock is farthest from Mars in the direction of the interplanetary electric field, consistent with the idea that mass loading plays an important role in the solar wind interaction with Mars. The authors also find that the shock cross section at the terminator plane is asymmetric and is controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field as expected from the asymmetric propagation velocity of the fast magnetosonic wave. Comparing with earlier mission data, they show that the Mars shock location varies with solar activity. The shock is farther from Mars during solar maximum. Thus the solar wind interaction with Mars appears to be Venuslike, with a magnetic moment too small to affect significantly the solar wind interaction.

• OSTI ID: 5224461
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:A7; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COORDINATES
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EVALUATION
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INTERACTIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOACOUSTIC WAVES
MARS PLANET
MORPHOLOGY
ORIENTATION
PLANETS
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VENUS PLANET