Statistical Analysis of Multiple Bow Shock Crossings at Mars

Abstract We conduct a statistical analysis of multiple bow shock (BS) crossings at Mars. Data from the magnetometer (MAG) and Solar Wind Ion Analyzer (SWIA) onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft from its first 2 years in orbit is used to identify flapping events. These are interpreted as the bow shock moving toward and away from Mars. 9% of all MAVEN passes occur when the BS is flapping. Such events are more common on the flanks than on the ramside and more common at southern dayside latitudes than in the north. The probability of flapping increases with increased dynamic pressure and decreased Mach number. The distribution of shock velocity and shock jump differ from the single‐BS cases. The shock moves in a swaying motion on the time scale of minutes, and such dynamics could influence other processes at Mars, such as plasma waves, wave‐particle interaction, and ion acceleration.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2025-10-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl118868
Primary Topic
Planetary Science and Exploration
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Statistical Analysis of Multiple Bow Shock Crossings at Mars

D. J. Andrews, Katerina Stergiopoulou, Shannon Curry, Cyril Simon Wedlund et al.
Geophysical Research Letters
Planetary Science and Exploration
article

Statistical Analysis of Multiple Bow Shock Crossings at Mars

D. J. Andrews, Katerina Stergiopoulou, Shannon Curry, Cyril Simon Wedlund, J. S. Halekas, M. Lester, Konstantin Kim, N. J. T. Edberg, Long Cheng
article en

Abstract

Abstract We conduct a statistical analysis of multiple bow shock (BS) crossings at Mars. Data from the magnetometer (MAG) and Solar Wind Ion Analyzer (SWIA) onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft from its first 2 years in orbit is used to identify flapping events. These are interpreted as the bow shock moving toward and away from Mars. 9% of all MAVEN passes occur when the BS is flapping. Such events are more common on the flanks than on the ramside and more common at southern dayside latitudes than in the north. The probability of flapping increases with increased dynamic pressure and decreased Mach number. The distribution of shock velocity and shock jump differ from the single‐BS cases. The shock moves in a swaying motion on the time scale of minutes, and such dynamics could influence other processes at Mars, such as plasma waves, wave‐particle interaction, and ion acceleration.

Geophysical Research LettersVol. 52(19)
Uppsala University (SE), University of Iowa (US), Swedish Institute of Space Physics (SE), Austrian Academy of Sciences (AT), University of Leicester (GB), University of Graz (AT), University of Colorado Boulder (US), Space Research Institute (AT), Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (US)
Austrian Science Fund, Vetenskapsrådet, Science and Technology Facilities Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Planetary Science and Exploration
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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