Will we find Martian lightning via Schumann resonances?

Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

Astronomy and Space Sciences

A. Verbiscer¹  J. R. Gruesbeck²  A. J. Halford²  J. R. Espley²  T. M. Esman³  J. Giacalone⁴ 

[1] Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States;NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States;NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States;Planetary Sciences, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States;

关键词: Mars;    Schumann resonance;    magnetometer;    ionosphere;    lightning;    waves;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fspas.2023.1162624

 received in 2023-02-09, accepted in 2023-08-31,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Schumann resonances are electromagnetic resonances generally associated with lightning. If they exist on Mars, Schumann resonances are expected to resonate within the ionospheric cavity at a fundamental frequency of 7–14 Hz. We conducted a search for 5–16 Hz signals below 400 km in magnetic field data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) and Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) missions. Fast Fourier transforms and wavelet analysis were used to find these signals and investigate their characteristics further. We discuss our null results and the required steps forward to continue and improve this search. Future studies will require higher sensitivity instruments and would benefit from additional missions that reach into the lower ionosphere of Mars.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Esman, Espley, Gruesbeck, Verbiscer, Giacalone and Halford.