A new framework for meso-scale driving of the high-latitude I-T system
Abstract
The coupling of the magnetosphere with the high-latitude ionosphere-thermosphere system occurs at different spatial and temporal scales. There are significant ongoing efforts to improve the representation of meso- and small-scale structures in global models to accurately characterize the I-T energy budget. We present a new methodology to incorporate meso-scale coupling in global circulation models. We utilize the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR) experiments specifically designed to provide high-resolution F-region electric field estimates, and E-region electron density measurements. Using a similar approach to Semeter and Kamalabadi (2005), we invert the electron density measurements to calculate the auroral ionization rates along the PFISR beams. Combining the electric field estimates and auroral ionization rates derived from the specifically designed PFISR experiment, we provide a picture of the meso-scale electrodynamics over the Poker Flat region in Alaska. We then employ our recently developed High-latitude Input for Meso-scale Electrodynamics (HIME) Framework to embed these meso-scale structures within the global empirical models of electric potential and particle precipitation. The resulting potentials and ionization rates are used to drive Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM). Analyzing the results, we quantify the contribution of meso-scale structures to the I-T energy budget, and the subsequent changes in the plasma properties.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AGUFMSA026..02O
- Keywords:
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- 2431 Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions;
- IONOSPHERE;
- 2447 Modeling and forecasting;
- IONOSPHERE;
- 2494 Instruments and techniques;
- IONOSPHERE;
- 2776 Polar cap phenomena;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS