Ionospheric Analysis With Martian Mutual Radio Occultation
Jacob Parrott (Imperial College London)
L.H. Svedhem (TU Delft - Astrodynamics & Space Missions)
Beatriz Sánchez-Cano (University of Leicester)
Olivier Witasse (European Space Agency (ESA))
Colin Wilson (European Space Agency (ESA))
Ingo Müller-Wodarg (Imperial College London)
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Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the Martian ionosphere using Mutual Radio Occultation (RO) observations between Mars Express and Trace Gas Orbiter, featuring 71 full vertical profiles out of a total of 124 measurements. Among these, 35 measurements were taken from regions with Solar Zenith Angles lower than 40°. The profiles also represent the largest data set for the lower M1 ionospheric layer during the midday ever measured. This paper has also been submitted with a comprehensive data set, which marks the first time MEX-TGO RO data has been made available to the community. Additionally, neutral temperature profiles have been extracted from the measurements. We find unexpected features in the lower thermosphere temperature behavior which we conclude is likely due to the effects of local circulation and associated dynamical heating rather than solar-controlled.
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