ON POSSIBLE OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE IN ELECTRON-DENSITY PROFILES OF A MAGNETIC-FIELD IN THE MARTIAN IONOSPHERE

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of a horizontal ma gnetic field and of horizontal transport of plasma on the vertical ele ctron density profile in the Martian ionosphere. A two-dimensional mag netohydrodynamic model for the steady state Martian ionosphere is pres ented. The model takes into account the basic reactions involving O+, O-2(+), and CO2+ ions and vertical plasma transport as well as horizon tal plasma transport along the hypothesized magnetic field lines. The good agreement between model predictions and experimental electron den sity radio occultation profiles supports the hypothesis of an intrinsi c magnetic field of Mars.