CEDAR: Studies of Magnetosphere Ionosphere Thermosphere Coupling

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The purpose of this CEDAR project is to better understand the coupling between the magnetosphere and ionosphere, and to quantify the resultant energy input into the neutral atmosphere. The proposed strategy has two components: first, to establish empirical models of convection in the high latitude ionosphere for various parameters of the interplanetary medium and magnetic activity; second, to examine carefully selected events that correspond to stable wind conditions. A combination of empirical modeling and case studies is needed because the ionospheric conditions are highly variable; the ionosphere-magnetosphere system is controlled by several processes, each with a response time characterized by different time scale. Therefore, the empirical models might not provide an accurate description of the pattern obtained for individual circumstances even when events corresponding to stable conditions are considered. Another aspect of our approach will be, when appropriate, to map electric fields, currents, and auroral features to the magnetospheric equatorial plane.