HR: 14:10h
AN: P52B-03    [PDF]
TI: High Altitude Ionospheric Clouds at Mars
AU: * Crider, D H
EM: dcrider@lepvax.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: Catholic University of America, 106 Driftwood Dr., Gibsonville, NC 27249-3310 United States
AB: As Mars Global Surveyor orbits Mars, it crosses into different plasma regimes, as is evident by the electron spectra obtained by the Electron Reflectometer (ER). Below about 380 km, the electron spectra are dominated by locally produced photoelectrons. The solar wind electrons are no longer visible. This paper investigates the appearance of this electron signature at altitudes above the nominal photoelectron boundary height. These may be detached high altitude ionospheric clouds, analogous to those observed at Venus by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter. We discuss the statistical analysis of their occurrence and possible interpretations.
DE: 2431 Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions (2736)
DE: 2780 Solar wind interactions with unmagnetized bodies
DE: 5435 Ionospheres (2459)
DE: 6225 Mars
DE: 6295 Venus
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting