NASA's MAVEN Detects Zwan-Wolf Effect Below 200 km on Mars After 2023 Solar Storm
Updated
Updated · Science@NASA · May 18
NASA's MAVEN Detects Zwan-Wolf Effect Below 200 km on Mars After 2023 Solar Storm
5 articles · Updated · Science@NASA · May 18
A Nature Communications study reports the first comprehensive detection of the Zwan-Wolf effect in Mars' atmosphere, identified in MAVEN data after scientists spotted unusual magnetic-field fluctuations in December 2023.
A large solar storm appears to have amplified the effect in the Martian ionosphere below 200 km, where charged particles were squeezed and redistributed along magnetic structures, making the signal visible to MAVEN.
The phenomenon, first discovered in 1976, had previously been observed only in planetary magnetospheres; finding it in an atmosphere was unexpected because Mars lacks Earth's global magnetic shield.
Researchers said the result adds a new mechanism for how the Sun and space weather can reshape Mars' environment, with implications for Venus, Titan and spacecraft or surface assets near the planet.
A lost NASA probe found Mars' atmosphere being squeezed by the sun. Are we now blind to the planet's most extreme space weather?
With MAVEN now silent, how will we predict violent solar storms on Mars to protect future astronauts?
Mars at a Crossroads: MAVEN’s 2025 Silence and the Groundbreaking Discovery of the Zwan-Wolf Effect
Overview
The MAVEN spacecraft, launched in 2013 and orbiting Mars since 2014, played a vital role in studying the Martian atmosphere and relaying communications for surface missions. After celebrating its 10th anniversary in orbit, MAVEN suddenly went silent behind Mars in December 2025, despite showing normal operations beforehand. NASA quickly began engineering investigations, analyzing recent data to uncover the cause of the loss. This unexpected silence not only disrupted communications for Mars rovers but also marked a major setback for ongoing research into Mars’ atmospheric dynamics and its interaction with the Sun, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring for future exploration.