1. Martian Thermospheric Response to an X8.2 Solar Flare on 10 September 2017 as Seen by MAVEN/IUVS.
- Author
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Jain, S. K., Deighan, J., Schneider, N. M., Stewart, A. I. F., Evans, J. S., Thiemann, E. M. B., Chaffin, M. S., Crismani, M., Stevens, M. H., Elrod, M. K., Stiepen, A., McClintock, W. E., Lo, D. Y., Clarke, J. T., Eparvier, F. G., Lefévre, F., Montmessin, F., Holsclaw, G. M., Chamberlin, P. C., and Jakosky, B. M.
- Abstract
Abstract: We report the response of the Martian upper atmosphere to a strong X‐class flare on 10 September 2017 as observed by the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument aboard the Mars Atmosphere Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission. The solar flare peaked at 16:24 hr UT, and IUVS dayglow observations were taken about an hour after the flare peak. Retrieved temperatures from IUVS dayglow observations show a significant increase during the flare orbit, with a mean value of ∼270 K and a maximum value of ∼310 K. The retrieved temperatures during the flare orbit also show a strong latitudinal gradient, indicating that the flare‐induced heating is limited between low and middle latitudes. During this event IUVS observed an ∼70% increase in the observed brightness of CO 2 + ultraviolet doublet and CO Cameron band emission at 90 km, where high‐energy photons (< 10 nm) deposit most of their energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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