Detection of Zwan-Wolf effect in the ionosphere of Mars

At planets that possess strong dipole magnetic fields, the Zwan-Wolf effect acts to squeeze plasma along magnetic flux tubes, aiding in the deflection of the solar wind flow about the planet. While the effect has been most studied at Earth, candidate observations have also been made at the outer planets. Here we present observations of the Zwan-Wolf effect occurring at Mars, an unmagnetized planet that lacks a dipole magnetic field. Our analysis of observations made by NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft suggest that while the Zwan-Wolf effect is likely continuously active within the Martian ionosphere, it operates below detection thresholds of typical plasma analyzers most of the time. However, an interplanetary coronal mass ejection impact at Mars in December 2023 greatly enhanced the Zwan-Wolf effect within the ionosphere, allowing it to be observed, and highlighting the importance of space weather events for these unmagnetized planetary systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-05-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72251-9
Primary Topic
Planetary Science and Exploration
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Detection of Zwan-Wolf effect in the ionosphere of Mars

Robin Ramstad, Duncan Bark, Christopher M. Fowler, David Brain et al.
Nature Communications
Planetary Science and Exploration
article

Detection of Zwan-Wolf effect in the ionosphere of Mars

Robin Ramstad, Duncan Bark, Christopher M. Fowler, David Brain, Kathleen G. Hanley, Mark Lester, David Mitchell, James McFadden, Christian Mazelle, Laila Andersson, Jared Espley, Christopher Chaston, Beatriz Sanchez-Cano, Mehdi Benna, Yingjuan Ma, Rebecca Jolitz, Jasper Halekas, Shannon Curry
article en

Abstract

At planets that possess strong dipole magnetic fields, the Zwan-Wolf effect acts to squeeze plasma along magnetic flux tubes, aiding in the deflection of the solar wind flow about the planet. While the effect has been most studied at Earth, candidate observations have also been made at the outer planets. Here we present observations of the Zwan-Wolf effect occurring at Mars, an unmagnetized planet that lacks a dipole magnetic field. Our analysis of observations made by NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft suggest that while the Zwan-Wolf effect is likely continuously active within the Martian ionosphere, it operates below detection thresholds of typical plasma analyzers most of the time. However, an interplanetary coronal mass ejection impact at Mars in December 2023 greatly enhanced the Zwan-Wolf effect within the ionosphere, allowing it to be observed, and highlighting the importance of space weather events for these unmagnetized planetary systems.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 17(1)
West Virginia University (US), University of Iowa (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Planetary Science Institute (US), Goddard Space Flight Center (US), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR), University of Leicester (GB), University of California, Los Angeles (US), Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR), Centre National d'Études Spatiales (FR), West Virginia University Hospitals (US), Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (US), University of California, Berkeley (US)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Planetary Science and Exploration
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