A Statistical Investigation of Factors Influencing the Magnetotail Twist at Mars

DiBraccio, Gina A.; Romanelli, Norberto; Bowers, Charles F.; Gruesbeck, Jacob R.; Halekas, Jasper S.; Ruhunusiri, Suranga; Weber, Tristan; Espley, Jared R.; Xu, Shaosui; Luhmann, Janet G.; Harada, Yuki; Dubinin, Eduard; Poh, Gang Kai; Brain, David A.; Curry, Shannon M.

doi:10.1029/2022GL098007

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A Statistical Investigation of Factors Influencing the Magnetotail Twist at Mars

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Dubinin, Eduard
Department Planets and Comets, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Max Planck Society;
MPI for Aeronomy, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Max Planck Society;

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https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022GeoRL..4998007D
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Citation

DiBraccio, G. A., Romanelli, N., Bowers, C. F., Gruesbeck, J. R., Halekas, J. S., Ruhunusiri, S., et al. (2022). A Statistical Investigation of Factors Influencing the Magnetotail Twist at Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e98007. doi:10.1029/2022GL098007.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000C-9370-F

Abstract

The Martian magnetotail exhibits a highly twisted configuration, shifting in response to changes in polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field's (IMF) dawn-dusk (B_Y) component. Here, we analyze ∼6000 MAVEN orbits to quantify the degree of magnetotail twisting (θ_Twist) and assess variations as a function of (a) strong planetary crustal field location, (b) Mars season, and (c) downtail distance. The results demonstrate that θ_Twist is larger for a duskward (+B_Y) IMF orientation a majority of the time. This preference is likely due to the local orientation of crustal magnetic fields across the surface of Mars, where a +B_Y IMF orientation presents ideal conditions for magnetic reconnection to occur. Additionally, we observe an increase in θ_Twist with downtail distance, similar to Earth's magnetotail. These findings suggest that coupling between the IMF and moderate-to-weak crustal field regions may play a major role in determining the magnetospheric structure at Mars.