Global Distributions of Irregular, Sporadic, and Descending Layers in the Lower Ionospheric-Thermospheric Domain

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This investigation addresses the role played by winds, electric fields, and ionospheric plasma layers in the 100-200 km altitude regime focusing on the determination of plasma layer distributions. This region is regularly populated by "sporadic," "intermediate," "descending," and/or "sequential" layers, with sufficiently high plasma content to play an important role in E- and F-region coupling processes and to influence the global-scale electrodynamic circuit. There is no global model of these layers, nor is there an empirical baseline to define their global distributions and their diurnal, seasonal, and solar-cycle controls. This void will be addressed by organizing and analyzing the international SUNDIAL database, and employing the SUNDIAL suite of ground-based diagnostic techniques, with emphasis on a new low cost analysis procedure. We will compare the data with the predictions of the NCAR/TIGCM provided by Dr. R. Roble. This will provide important tests of the uniqueness and validity of the code's input conditions; and it will make possible a self-consistent investigation into the contributing roles of meridional and zonal wind-shear forces, electric fields, and ion composition.