Modeling the solar wind interaction with magnetic anomalies at Mars

Simulations by Harnett et al. [2003] show that the strong southern magnetic anomalies on Mars create a magnetopause-like structure (a mini-magnetopause) in place of a magnetic pileup boundary. The effect of the crustal magnetic field on ionospheric loss rates was shown by Harnett et al. [2006] to be on the order of 10²⁵ O₂⁺ ions/sec for quiet solar wind conditions and 10²⁶ O₂⁺ ions/sec for storm-like conditions.

Harnett [2009] compared Mars Global Surveyor energy spectra to those in the multi-fluid model to show that the formation of flux ropes at Mars can lead to enhanced heavy ions from the atmosphere.