Researchers Create Map of Electric Currents in Magnetosphere of Mars

Using five years of magnetic field data obtained by NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft, a team of scientists has created the first-ever map of the electric current systems in the Martian induced magnetosphere.

Earth’s magnetism comes from its core, where molten, electrically conducting iron flows beneath the crust. Its magnetic field is global, meaning it surrounds the entire planet.

Since Mars is a rocky planet like Earth, one might assume that the same kind of magnetic paradigm functions there, too. However, the Red Planet doesn’t generate a magnetic field on its own, outside of relatively small patches of magnetized crust.

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Image credit: NASA / Goddard / MAVEN / CU Boulder / SVS / Cindy Starr.

Electric currents (blue and red arrows) envelop Mars in a nested, double-loop structure that wraps continuously around the planet from its day side to its night side. These current loops distort the solar wind magnetic field (not pictured), which drapes around Mars to create an induced magnetosphere around the planet.

In the process, the currents electrically connect Mars’ upper atmosphere and the induced magnetosphere to the solar wind, transferring electric and magnetic energy generated at the boundary of the induced magnetosphere (faint inner paraboloid) and at the solar wind bow shock (faint outer paraboloid).

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MAVEN Mars Measured Electric Current

Five years after NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft entered into orbit around Mars, data from the mission has led to the creation of a map of electric current systems in the Martian atmosphere.

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN), set to launch in 2013, will explore the planet's upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind.

Scientists will use MAVEN data to determine the role that loss of volatile compounds from the Mars atmosphere.