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Martian Thermospheric Response to an X8.2 Solar Flare on 10 September 2017 as Seen by MAVEN/IUVS
Author(s) -
Jain S. K.,
Deighan J.,
Schneider N. M.,
Stewart A. I. F.,
Evans J. S.,
Thiemann E. M. B.,
Chaffin M. S.,
Crismani M.,
Stevens M. H.,
Elrod M. K.,
Stiepen A.,
McClintock W. E.,
Lo D. Y.,
Clarke J. T.,
Eparvier F. G.,
Lefévre F.,
Montmessin F.,
Holsclaw G. M.,
Chamberlin P. C.,
Jakosky B. M.
Publication year - 2018
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 - 10.1029/2018gl077731
Subject(s) - flare , atmosphere of mars , mars exploration program , martian , atmosphere (unit) , solar flare , physics , thermosphere , atmospheric sciences , astrophysics , ultraviolet , astronomy , extreme ultraviolet , brightness , astrobiology , environmental science , ionosphere , meteorology , laser , optics , quantum mechanics
We report the response of the Martian upper atmosphere to a strong X‐class flare on 10 September 2017 as observed by the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument aboard the Mars Atmosphere Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission. The solar flare peaked at 16:24 hr UT, and IUVS dayglow observations were taken about an hour after the flare peak. Retrieved temperatures from IUVS dayglow observations show a significant increase during the flare orbit, with a mean value of ∼270 K and a maximum value of ∼310 K. The retrieved temperatures during the flare orbit also show a strong latitudinal gradient, indicating that the flare‐induced heating is limited between low and middle latitudes. During this event IUVS observed an ∼70% increase in the observed brightness of CO2 +ultraviolet doublet and CO Cameron band emission at 90 km, where high‐energy photons (< 10 nm) deposit most of their energy.