Evaluation of high latitude forcing methods and assumptions, and their impact on the thermosphere-ionosphere system

Abstract

During geomagnetic storms magnetospheric energy couples into the thermosphere-ionospheresystem at high latitude via ion convection and auroral particle precipitation. Numerical modelingof geomagnetic storms allows us to study the important processes and is crucial in advancing ourcapabilities of predicting the global storm time effects.In this effort our overall objective is to evaluate common assumptions and characteristics of highlatitude forcing methods in general circulation models by quantifying their effects on the globalthermosphere-ionosphere system. This study will lead to a quantitative understanding of theeffects of these assumptions and help to identify essential improvements in the numericalmodeling of the MI coupling.We will be guided by the following science questions:SQ1. How important are neutral winds in modulating the magnetospheric forcing of the ionconvection and Joule heating?SQ2. What is the sensitivity of the middle and low latitude TI storm-time response tohemispheric differences in the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling?SQ3. How important is it to consider different scales in the high latitude forcing and to employmutually consistent ion convection and particle precipitation models for the middle and lowlatitude storm time response?

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Sep 11, 2017
Source ID
FA95501710248

Entities

People

  • Astrid Maute

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • United States Air Force
  • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Neurological Diseases/Conditions/Disorders
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.