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Detailed Reference Information
Ferguson et al. 2005
Ferguson, B.B., Cain, J.C., Crider, D.H., Brain, D.A. and Harnett, E.M. (2005). External fields on the nightside of Mars at Mars Global Surveyor mapping altitudes. Geophysical Research Letters 32: doi: 10.1029/2004GL021964. issn: 0094-8276.

More than four years of data taken from Mars Global Surveyor during its Mapping Phase Orbits (360--420 km altitude) over low field regions were examined. The nightside magnetic field data were binned according to a proxy solar wind pressure calculated from the dayside measurements. When the crustal field contribution calculated from the internal field model (FSU90) is removed, the distribution of residuals is bi-valued in the sunward component. Pass-by-pass inspections of the data sometimes show a sudden reversal of field, which occur on successive passes. Analysis indicates that for these orbits MGS traverses a current sheet that separates the two lobes of Mars' magnetotail. These results indicate that on the nightside the major contributor to the external field is the draping of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field about the planet and that care must be taken when utilizing such data for modeling Mars' internal field.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Planetary Sciences, Fluid Planets, Interactions with particles and fields, Planetary Sciences, Fluid Planets, Magnetic fields and magnetism, Planetary Sciences, Fluid Planets, Magnetospheres, Planetary Sciences, Solar System Objects, Mars
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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