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Calculation of mid-latitude meridional neutral winds from an improved servo-model approximation method. Master's thesis

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5084830

The theoretical servo model of Rishbeth, Ganguly and Walker provided the impetus for a physically more practical version of a servo model, called the USU servo model. The USU servo model was developed to automatically calculate, with a personal computer, meridional neutral wind of the upper thermosphere for any mid-latitude location from F2-peak layer heights. F2-peak layer heights were input into the USU servo model from three different sources for calculation of meridional neutral winds. The International Reference Ionosphere provided mid-latitude, geomagnetically quiet, monthly averages of F2-layer heights for different solar cycle conditions. The International Reference Ionosphere also provided a means of comparison with ionosonde F2-peak layer height deduced winds. F2-layer heights from different mid-latitude ionosondes were determined by using scaled ionosonde critical frequencies from an empirical equation developed by Bradley and Dudeney. Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar provided a means to compare the USU servo model with other neutral wind calculation techniques, including radar-derived winds. Results of this investigation indicate that the USU servo model is a valuable tool in the calculation of mid-latitude meridional neutral winds and compare well with radar-deduced wind data during quiet to moderate geomagnetic activity. When combined with F2-layer heights produced by the International Reference Ionosphere, the USU servo model can become a meridional neutral wind prediction tool, computing solar cycle and latitudinal variations in neutral wind calculation patterns.

Research Organization:
Air Force Inst. of Tech., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (United States)
OSTI ID:
5084830
Report Number(s):
AD-A-249874/9/XAB; AFIT/CI/CIA--91-121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English