D, E, and F layers in the daytime at high-latitude terminator ionosphere of Mars: Comparison with Earth's ionosphere using COSMIC data

(H?O)n are dominated in the D region, while NO?, CO??, and O?? are major ions in the E and F regions. The calculated E and F peak heights are in good agreement with MGS observation. The value of D peak density is lowered by 1 and 2 orders of magnitude from the measurements on Mars and Earth, respectively.

The height of F layer peak is lower by factor of 1.8 in the Martian ionosphere as compared to that observed in the ionosphere of Earth. E regions are created at nearly the same heights in the ionospheres of both planets, but the layer thickness is considerably less on Mars than on Earth. This implies that solar EUV energy is deposited within smaller-altitude range in the upper ionosphere of Mars as compared to the corresponding altitude range in the upper ionosphere of Earth.