Cite abstracts as Author(s) (2010), Title, Abstract xxxxx-xxxx presented at 2010 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 13-17 Dec.
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withers
HR: 1340h
AN: SH43A-1807 Poster
TI: An exploratory survey of the attenuation of radio signals by the ionosphere of Mars
AU: *Withers, P
EM: withers@bu.edu
AF: Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
AB:
A radio signal is attenuated as it passes through a planetary
ionosphere. This attenuation depends on the radio frequency, the
electron-neutral collision frequency, and the vertical profile of
electron density. Thus the attenuation varies with changes in
ionospheric conditions. In particular, extreme solar events, such as
intense solar flares or solar energetic particle events, that increase
ionospheric electron densities at altitudes below 100 km may cause
significantly enhanced attentuation. Such attenuation has the potential
to degrade the performance of radio communications and navigation
systems at Mars. It can also disrupt observations by the MARSIS topside
radar sounder on Mars Express. We have developed theoretical expressions
for the attenuation caused by a layer of ionospheric plasma. In this
presentation, we shall use these results to explore how the attenuation
depends on radio frequency and layer altitude, electron density, and
width. We shall focus on three plasma layers - the M1 layer produced at
100 km by solar soft X-rays, the meteoric layer produced at 85 km by
meteoroid ablation, and a potential layer at 35 km that theorists have
predicted is caused by precipitating energetic particles. We shall also
report on the implications for understanding surface reflection
blackouts that afflict the MARSIS instrument for periods of days to
weeks after solar energetic particle events.
DE: [6225] PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS / Mars
SC: SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics (SH)
MN: 2010 Fall Meeting