Schumann resonances at Mars: Effects of the day‐night asymmetry and the dust‐loaded ionosphere

Abstract

Schumann resonances are standing waves that oscillate in the electromagnetic cavity formed between the conducting lower ionosphere and the surface of the planet. They have been measured in situ only on Earth and Titan, although they are believed to exist on other planets like Mars. We report numerical simulations of the Martian electromagnetic cavity, accounting for the day‐night asymmetry and different dust scenarios. It has been found that the resonances are more energetic on the nightside, the first resonance is expected to be 9–14 Hz depending on the dust activity and to have low quality factors (Q≃2). This work serves as an input for the upcoming Exomars surface platform (launch 2020), who will attempt to measure them for the first time.

Will we find Martian lightning via Schumann resonances?

“…Several groups have created models to predict the characteristics of SR at Mars using both analytical and numerical modeling techniques (Sukhorukov, 1991;Pechony and Price, 2004;Molina-Cuberos et al, 2006;Yang et al, 2006;Soriano et al, 2007;Simoes et al, 2008b;Simoes et al, 2008a;Toledo-Redondo et al, 2017). These models use a variety of parameterizations for the surface conductivities, but in all cases (disregarding the unrealistic case of perfect conductivity) the fundamental frequency is predicted to be ∼7-14 Hz.…”

Effect of Dust Storm and GCR Impact on the Production Rate of O3+ in MY 28 and MY 29: Modeling and SPICAM Observation

“…In presence of dust storms the production of O 3 is more which produces more negative ions CO 3 − (H 2 O) n and increased the D layer of the Mars' ionosphere (cf. Michael et al, ; Molina‐Cuberos et al, ; Tolendo‐Redondo et al, ). During the dust storms dust aerosols are charged.…”