Auroral currents from EMM and InSight: A comparison of EMM-EMUS auroral observations and InSight-IFG magnetic field fluctuations Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) onboard the Emirates Mars Mission spacecraft, which observes ultraviolet emission between approximately 100 and 170 nm, has observed multiple instances of nightside aurora at Mars. Variations in the auroral brightness and morphology have been observed to change on timescales of tens of minutes. The brightest aurorae are typically seen following space weather events, i.e., coronal mass ejection and stream interaction region impacts. The InSight Fluxgate Magnetometer (IFG) on the Interior Explorations using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander measured the magnetic field at the surface of Mars. IFG has measured variations in the nightside surface magnetic field, presumably due to variations in ionospheric and magnetospheric currents. Periodic and aperiodic variations in the surface field have been observed, including with timescales of a few minutes to tens of minutes. The magnitude of the fluctuations is often larger following space weather events. We examine the connection between the presence of aurora as observed by EMUS and surface magnetic field fluctuations as measured by IFG. Coincident EMUS and IFG observations show enhanced surface magnetic field fluctuations during times when aurorae were present. Additionally, the timescale of fluctuations in the auroral brightness are similar to the timescale of surface magnetic field fluctuations for non-coincident observations. These results suggest that IFG measured the surface magnetic field effect of time varying ionospheric auroral currents.

publication date

  • May 15, 2023

has restriction

  • closed

Date in CU Experts

  • February 25, 2023 2:19 AM

Full Author List

  • Fillingim M; Lillis R; Mittelholz A; AlMatroushi H; AlMazmi H; Chaffin M; Chi P; Chirakkil K; Corriera J; Deighan J

author count

  • 20

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