Abstract
A recent survey of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) electron data for dayside photoelectron observations over regions of strong crustal fields revealed an unusual bimodal solar flux dependence. The elevated‐flux population was associated with the timing of a large global dust storm in late 2001. The results of a systematic study parameterizing the photoelectron flux intensities against a solar flux proxy and MGS‐observed atmospheric dust opacity are presented here. Instantaneous dust opacities were used as well as time‐history averages and maximal values. The result is a functional form for the photoelectron fluxes against these parameters. The inclusion of instantaneous dust opacity values in the function do not improve the correlation, but a time‐history window significantly enhances the correlation and explains the bimodal distribution in the electron fluxes. The best relationship was obtained with 7‐Earth‐month time‐history dust opacity variables included in the function. The most likely explanation for this long‐lived influence of dust storms is a composition and/or density change in the upper atmosphere.
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