Exploring the Solar Wind-Planetary Interaction at Mars: Implication for Magnetic Reconnection.

The Martian crustal magnetic anomalies present a varied, asymmetric obstacle to the imposing draped interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and solar wind plasma. Magnetic reconnection, a ubiquitous plasma phenomenon responsible for transferring energy and changing magnetic field topology, has been observed throughout the Martian magnetosphere. More specifically, reconnection can occur as a result of the interaction between crustal fields and the IMF, however, the global implications and changes to the overall magnetospheric structure of Mars have yet to be fully understood.

A Statistical Investigation of Factors Influencing the Magnetotail Twist at Mars.

The Martian magnetotail exhibits a highly twisted configuration, shifting in response to changes in polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field's (IMF) dawn-dusk ( ) component. Here, we analyze ∼6000 MAVEN orbits to quantify the degree of magnetotail twisting ( ) and assess variations as a function of (a) strong planetary crustal field location, (b) Mars season, and (c) downtail distance. The results demonstrate that is larger for a duskward (+ ) IMF orientation a majority of the time.