On the responses to solar X-ray flare and coronal mass ejection in the ionospheres of Mars and Earth

Abstract

We have used Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) observations for the period 12 to 18 May 2005 to address the effect of X-ray flare and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on the Total Electron Content (TEC) of the E region ionosphere of Mars during a violent solar event that occurred on 13 May. Modeling of E region TEC was also carried out for the time of the flare using the observed X-ray flux. We report that the solar flare caused enhancements in the TEC of Mars by factors of 6 to 10. A response was also observed in the E region plasma frequency of the Earth's ionosphere at nearly same time as the MGS observations. Our results suggest that sporadic E layer plasma frequency and TEC can increase by factors of 3 to 6 during the arrival of a CME at both Earth and Mars. Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.