Recurrent Solar Energetic Particle Flux Enhancements Observed near Earth and Mars

Abstract

The period 2016 August 1 to November 15 was characterized by the presence of corotating interaction regions (CIRs) and a few weak coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the heliosphere. In this study we show recurrent energetic electron and proton enhancements observed near Earth (1 au) and Mars (1.43–1.38 au) during this period. The observations near Earth use data from instruments on board the Advanced Composition Explorer, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and Solar Dynamics Observatory and those near Mars are from the Solar Energetic Particle, Solar Wind Ion Analyzer, and Magnetometer instruments on board the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN). During this period, the energetic electron fluxes observed near Earth and Mars showed prominent periodic enhancements over four solar rotations, with major periodicities of ∼27 days and ∼13 days. Periodic radar blackouts/weakenings of radar signals at Mars were observed by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding/Mars Express, and are associated with these solar energetic electron enhancements. During this period, a weak CME and a high-speed stream (HSS)-related interplanetary shock could have interacted with the CIR and enhance energetic proton fluxes near 1.43–1.38 au, causing ∼27 days periodicity in proton fluxes to be significantly diminished at 1.43–1.38 au. These events also have an unexpected impact on the Martian topside ionosphere, such as topside ionospheric depletion and compression observed by the Langmuir Probe and Waves and Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer on board MAVEN. These observations are unique not only because of the recurring nature of electron enhancements seen at two vantage points, but also because they reveal the unexpected impact of the weak CME and interplanetary shock on the Martian ionosphere, which provides new insights into the impact of CME–HSS interactions on the Martian plasma environment.