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.