Thermospheric Mass Density Specification: Synthesis of Observations and Models
Abstract
The objective of the project was to improve the thermospheric mass density specification by synthesizing a host of global observations of the thermosphere and ionosphere with a general circulation model and by characterizing the density variability associated with various external forcing. We have assimilated the neutral mass density data sampled from the Air Force (AF) High Accuracy Satellite Drag Model (HASDM) into the NCAR- Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model using an ensemble Kalman filter assimilation procedure, and adjusted both neutral temperature and major composition mass mixing ratio globally. Global HASDM data appear to be more effective to reduce errors in the global mass density than in-situ observations obtained along satellite orbits in terms of the global neutral density specification. Among all sources of external forcing, the electromagnetic forcing in high-latitudes resulting from the solar-wind-magnetosphere interactions has the most significant impact on the mass density variability. We showed evidence that solar wind density enhancements and pressure pulses can cause intense low-energy particle precipitation and associated damping of thermospheric density response due to enhanced production of nitric oxide - an active infrared cooling agent. Ground-based indices as used by AF Space Command fail to capture these interactions in forecasting algorithms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 21, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA592729
Entities
People
- Delores Knipp
- Tomoko Matsuo
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder