MGS Radio Science electron density profiles: Interannual variability and implications for the Martian neutral atmosphere

Abstract

Martian electron density profiles provided by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Radio Science (RS) experiment over the 95–200 km altitude range indicate wthat the height of the electron peak and the longitudinal structure of the peak height are sensitive indicators of the physical state of the Mars lower and upper atmospheres. The present analysis is carried out on five sets of occultation profiles, all at high solar zenith angles (SZA). Variations spanning 2 Martian years are investigated near aphelion conditions at high northern latitudes (64.7–77.6N) making use of four of these data sets. A mean ionospheric peak height of 133.5–135 km is obtained near SZA = 78–82°; a corresponding mean peak density of 7.3–8.5 × 104 cm−3 is also measured during solar moderate conditions at Mars. Strong wave number 2–3 oscillations in peak heights are consistently observed as a function of longitude over the 2 Martian years. These observed ionospheric features are remarkably similar during aphelion conditions 1 Martian year apart. This year‐to‐year repeatability in the thermosphere‐ionosphere structure is consistent with that observed in multiyear aphelion temperature data of the Mars lower atmosphere [Clancy et al., 2000; Smith, 2004]. Coupled Mars general circulation model (MGCM) and Mars thermospheric general circulation model (MTGCM) codes are run for Mars aphelion conditions, yielding mean and longitude variable ionospheric peak heights that reasonably match RS observations. A tidal decomposition of MTGCM thermospheric densities shows that observed ionospheric wave number 3 features are linked to a nonmigrating tidal mode with semidiurnal period (σ = 2) and zonal wave number 1 (s = −1) characteristics. The height of this photochemically determined ionospheric peak should be monitored regularly.