Articles | Volume 25, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-25-2359-2007
© Author(s) 2007. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-25-2359-2007
© Author(s) 2007. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
29 Nov 2007
On magnetospheric electron impact ionisation and dynamics in Titan's ram-side and polar ionosphere – a Cassini case study
K. Agren
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Box 537, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden
J.-E. Wahlund
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Box 537, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden
R. Modolo
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Box 537, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden
D. Lummerzheim
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
M. Galand
Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, UK
I. Müller-Wodarg
Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, UK
P. Canu
Centre d'Étude des Environnements Terrestre et Planétaires/CNRS/Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, 78140 Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
W. S. Kurth
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
T. E. Cravens
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
R. V. Yelle
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
J. H. Waite Jr.
Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
A. J. Coates
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK
G. R. Lewis
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK
D. T. Young
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78238, USA
C. Bertucci
Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, UK
M. K. Dougherty
Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, UK
Abstract. We present data from the sixth Cassini flyby of Titan (T5), showing that the magnetosphere of Saturn strongly interacts with the moon's ionosphere and exo-ionosphere. A simple electron ionisation model provides a reasonable agreement with the altitude structure of the ionosphere. Furthermore, we suggest that the dense and cold exo-ionosphere (from the exobase at 1430 km and outward to several Titan radii from the surface) can be explained by magnetospheric forcing and other transport processes whereas exospheric ionisation by impacting low energy electrons seems to play a minor role.
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How to cite. Agren, K., Wahlund, J.-E., Modolo, R., Lummerzheim, D., Galand, M., Müller-Wodarg, I., Canu, P., Kurth, W. S., Cravens, T. E., Yelle, R. V., J. H. Waite Jr., Coates, A. J., Lewis, G. R., Young, D. T., Bertucci, C., and Dougherty, M. K.: On magnetospheric electron impact ionisation and dynamics in Titan's ram-side and polar ionosphere – a Cassini case study, Ann. Geophys., 25, 2359–2369, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-25-2359-2007, 2007.