The effects on the ionosphere of inertia in the high latitude neutral thermosphere. Final report, April 1989-April 1993

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:6327604

Burns, A; Killeen, T

High-latitude ionospheric currents, plasma temperatures, densities, and composition are all affected by the time-dependent response of the neutral thermosphere to ion drag and Joule heating through a variety of complex feedback processes. These processes can best be studied numerically using the appropriate nonlinear numerical modeling techniques in conjunction with experimental case studies. In particular, the basic physics of these processes can be understood using a model, and these concepts can then be applied to more complex realistic situations by developing the appropriate simulations of real events. Finally, these model results can be compared with satellite-derived data from the thermosphere. We used numerical simulations from the National Center of Atmospheric Research Thermosphere/Ionosphere General Circulation Model (NCAR TIGCM) and data from the Dynamic Explorer 2 (DE 2) satellite to study the time-dependent effects of the inertia of the neutral thermosphere on ionospheric currents, plasma temperatures, densities, and composition. One particular case of these inertial effects is the so-called 'fly-wheel effect'. This effect occurs when the neutral gas, that has been spun-up by the large ionospheric winds associated with a geomagnetic storm, moves faster than the ions in the period after the end of the main phase of the storm. In these circumstances, the neutral gas can drag the ions along with them. It is this last effect, which is described in the next section, that has been studied under this grant.

• Research Organization: Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6327604
• Report Number(s): N-93-20758; NASA-CR-192358; NAS-1.26:192358; CNN: NAGW-1535
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
FEEDBACK
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
THERMOSPHERE
DRAG
JOULE HEATING
LATITUDE EFFECT
MAGNETIC STORMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOMENT OF INERTIA
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PROGRESS REPORT
DOCUMENT TYPES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC HEATING
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HEATING
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA HEATING
RESISTANCE HEATING
VARIATIONS
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)