Modeling Density Variation in the Thermosphere

Abstract

The project objective was to significantly advance the quantitative understanding of solar and magnetospheric energy inputs to the upper atmosphere and the resultant responses of thermospheric density and wind and of ionospheric electron density. Specifically, our goals were to: * Quantify the distribution of magnetospheric energy inputs to the thermosphere/ionosphere system, and understand how energy is partitioned in terms of generating density and wind perturbations on local and global scales; * Reveal and understand new aspects of the thermosphere response to solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) variability, and how this response interacts with that to magnetospheric inputs; * Develop improved parameters for first-principles models of the thermosphere/ionosphere system, in order to optimize their ability to simulate the system's response to variable energy inputs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 29, 2011
Accession Number
ADA545425

Entities

People

  • A. D. Richmond

Organizations

  • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Atmospheres
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electric Fields
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • High Latitudes
  • Ionosphere
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Minisatellites
  • Perturbations
  • Seasonal Variations
  • Space Objects
  • Thermosphere
  • Voltage

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics