The Effects of Different Drivers on the Induced Martian Magnetosphere
Boundary: A Case Study of September 2017
Abstract
The Magnetic Pileup Boundary or Induced Magnetosphere Boundary (IMB) has
been an enigma in Mars aeronomy. Previously dubbed the planetopause,
magnetopause, ion-composition boundary, and protonopause, identification
of this unique plasma region has been marked by difficulty. In this case
study, we used data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN
(MAVEN) mission to identify IMB crossings and configurations during the
month of September 2017 with a particular focus on the 10 September 2017
solar events. It was concluded that the ICME had no statistically
significant impact on the IMB standoff locations. This study also
investigated the effects of upstream dynamic pressure, thermal pressure
from the magnetosheath, magnetic pressure from the Magnetic Pileup
Region (MPR), thermal pressure associated with the ionosphere, and
Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance on the IMB during September 2017.
We have found that during the 163 IMB crossings, magnetic pressure in
the MPR and thermal pressure in the ionosphere had the largest influence
on the IMB standoff distance.