The magnetic field near Mars, and its relationship to the solar wind parameters.

       During the spring of 1999, Earth was located between the Sun and Mars, and
the solar wind measurements near Earth therefore provides information on the solar
wind variations near Mars. During this time-period the Mars Global Surveyor
satellite (MGS) was in its mapping  phase, monitoring the magnetic field in
altitudes close to 400 km. At this altitude the satellite passes in and out of the
regional "mini-magnetospheres" associated with the strong crustal anomalies. The
period therefore provides a good opportunity to study the interaction between the
solar wind and the Martian ionosphere and strong crustal magnetic anomalies.

       In this study we investigate statistically the relationship between the
draped interplanetary magnetic field at the day-side, observed by MGS predominantly
over the northern hemisphere, and the solar wind parameters measured near Earth. We
propose that the magnetic field measurements over the northern hemispheres are used
to construct “proxies” for the solar wind parameters. These proxies can subsequently
be used for studying the solar wind interaction with the strong crustal anomalies in
the southern hemisphere.