Interpreting Mars ionospheric anomalies over crustal magnetic field regions using a 2-D ionospheric model

The spatially inhomogeneous, small‐scale crustal magnetic fields of Mars influence the escape of planetary atmospheric species and the interaction of the solar wind with the ionosphere. Understanding the plasma response to crustal magnetic field regions can therefore provide insight to ionospheric structure and dynamics. To date, several localized spatial structures in ionospheric properties that have been observed over regions of varying magnetic field at Mars have yet to be explained. In this study, a two‐dimensional ionospheric model is used to simulate the effects of field‐aligned plasma transport in regions of strong crustal magnetic fields. Resulting spatial and diurnal plasma distributions are analyzed and found to agree with observations from several spacecraft and offer compelling interpretations for many of the anomalous ionospheric behaviors observed at or near regions of strong crustal magnetic fields on Mars. Key Points The Martian ionosphere is sensitive to crustal magnetic field morphology Ionospheric structure in crustal field regions is simulated in 2‐D Field aligned transport is a mechanism that explains many observed anomalies