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Ionospheric effects of solar flares at Mars
Author(s) -
Mahajan K. K.,
Lodhi Neelesh K.,
Singh Sachchidanand
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2009gl039454
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , solar flare , ionosphere , astrobiology , geology , solar energetic particles , coronal mass ejection , solar wind , geophysics , astronomy , physics , plasma , quantum mechanics
From an analysis of electron density profiles recorded aboard Mars Global Surveyor, we report observations of some new and aeronomically important solar flare effects in the ionosphere of Mars. We find that all flares result in the formation of a well defined E layer peak, not always seen on other days. Further, while majority of flares result in elevated electron densities in the E region alone, some flares affect both the E and F1 layers. These altitude ‐ related effects can provide vital information on the relative enhancement of photon fluxes in the various wavelength bands during solar flares. By using the unit optical depth values at Mars from Fox (2004) and the XUV irradiance model of Meier et al. (2002) for the Bastille Day solar flare, we infer that the well defined E peaks could result from enhancement of photon fluxes in the 10–13 nm spectral band. The extension of effect to the F1 layer is due to hardening of the 26–91 nm spectral band, as supported by Solar EUV Monitor measurements on Solar Heliospheric Observatory.