Alternative Coordinate Systems for High Latitude Ionospheric Plasma Studies.
Abstract
Detailed numerical calculations which attempt to model the electromagnetic coupling between the polar ionosphere and the solar wind driven magnetospheric current systems must be formulated with a recognition of the wide range of physical scale sizes which must be accommodated within the constraint of finite computer resources. This is especially true of a numerical calculation which attempts to include the effects of high altitude nuclear explosion generated disturbances in the polar ionosphere. For this problem it is necessary to resolve simultaneously both ''small'' scale features (approx = 100 km or less in extent) in the ionosphere and ''large'' scale features of the magnetosphere (features with dimensions greater than the radius of the earth). If standard coordinate systems are used, a computational grid which spans the magnetosphere will contain an unacceptably large number of cells. This report describes a unique coordinate system, the ''zeta coordinate system'', which was developed to circumvent this problem. The zeta coordinate system has the property of being approximately aligned with a dipole magnetic field in the near-earth zone, but it transitions smoothly to approach a cylindrical coordinate system far from the earth. This coordinate system is specified by simple analytic expressions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA156851
Entities
People
- D. J. Maloof
- W. W. White