Atmospheric Electrodynamics probe for THERmal plasma (AETHER) for the GDC mission: an Investigation of the Ionosphere and Thermosphere
Abstract
The Earth's ionosphere-thermosphere (I-T) system is a complex and dynamic environment in which the dominant forces and processes can change spatially and temporally. Investigating only individual aspects of the system is not sufficient to explain the observed responses. The Atmospheric Electrodynamics probe for THERmal plasma (AETHER) instrument has been selected to be included on the NASA Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission. AETHER science goals focus on the energy and momentum transfer between neutral gas and plasma in the I-T system, and the resulting dynamics that arise. In the polar region, the team will determine the response of thermospheric neutral gas density and velocity to convecting ionospheric density structures. The processes, and their relative importance, that govern evolution and breakup of plasma density structures as they convect across the polar cap will be determined. At mid- to low-latitudes, the team will focus on determining the propagation and dissipation mechanisms of both traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) and traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs), and the degree to which they exchange momentum. The mechanisms that enable the equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) to drive the equatorial mass anomaly (EMA) (including the efficiency with which plasma vertical motion can be driven by neutral winds) will also be determined. In this presentation, these science objectives will be used to demonstrate the AETHER instrument capabilities and the novel observations that the GDC constellation will provide to the community.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022AGUFMSA25C1930A