MAVEN IUVS observation of the hot oxygen corona at Mars

Justin Deighan (1) , M. S. Chaffin (1) , Jean-Yves Chaufray (2) , A. Ian F. Stewart (1) , N. M. Schneider (1) , Sonal K. Jain (1) , Arnaud Stiepen (1) , Matteo Crismani (1) , William E. Mcclintock (1) , John T. Clarke (3) , Greg M. Holsclaw (1) , Franck Montmessin (2) , F. G. Eparvier (1) , E. M. B. Thiemann (1) , Phillip C. Chamberlin (4) , Bruce M. Jakosky (1)

1 LASP - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics [Boulder]
2 PLANETO - LATMOS
3 CSP - Center for Space Physics [Boston]
4 GSFC - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Observation of the hot oxygen corona at Mars has been an elusive measurement in planetary science. Characterizing this component of the planet's exosphere provides insight into the processes driving loss of oxygen at the current time, which informs understanding of the planet's climatic evolution. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument is now regularly collecting altitude profiles of the hot oxygen corona as part of its investigation of atmospheric escape from Mars. Observations obtained thus far have been examined and found to display the expected gross structure and variability with EUV forcing anticipated by theory. The quality and quantity of the data set provides valuable constraints for the coronal modeling community.

Mots clés: MAVEN; ultraviolet; Mars; corona

Domaines: Planétologie et astrophysique de la terre [astro-ph.EP]; Astrophysique stellaire et solaire [astro-ph.SR]

Justin Deighan, M. S. Chaffin, Jean-Yves Chaufray, A. Ian F. Stewart, N. M. Schneider, et al.. MAVEN IUVS observation of the hot oxygen corona at Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, 2015, 42 (21), pp.9009-9014. ⟨10.1002/2015GL065487⟩. ⟨insu-01238383⟩