Finite Element Simulation of Processes in the Auroral Ionosphere.

Abstract

A two dimensional computer model of the night-time ionosphere was developed to simulate atmospheric processes acting at mid and high latitude regions. The computational method used was finite element simulation (FES) of the physical processes rather than a numerical solution of the differential equations governing the ionospheric system. The processes of O+ and H+ transport, several chemical reactions and O+ production due to precipitating energetic electrons were included. The initial neutral and ion profiles were input and the time evolution of the O+, H+, NO+ and O2+ profiles were simulated using a suitable time step. One dimensional simulations of the winter dayside auroral cusp and night-time Millstone Hill profiles and a two dimensional simulation of the poleward wall of the mid-latitude trough were made. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA065551

Entities

People

  • Bradley Vance
  • Michael Mendillo

Organizations

  • Boston University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Computational Science
  • Computers
  • Differential Equations
  • Diffusion Coefficient
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Equations
  • Geometry
  • Grids
  • High Latitudes
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Models
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics