CEDAR: Theoretical Modelling for the MISETA Initiative

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The proposed research is to support numerical simulations and theoretical modelling of the low latitude thermosphere and ionosphere as part of the proposed MISETA initiative. MISETA (Multi-Instrument Studies of Equatorial Thermosphere Aeronomy) seeks to carry out measurements at Jicamarca and Arequipa, Peru, by coherent and incoherent scatter radar, digisonde, spaced scintillation reciever, Fabry Perot interferometer and all-sky imager. These instruments will provide data on the neutral and inoized atmosphere including measurements of vertical and zonal drifts, electron densities, ion, electron, and neutral temperatures, zonal and mericonal neutral winds, and spread_F and electrojet observations. Emphasis is on the coupled thermosphere- ionosphere dynamics; topics to be explored include the role of atmosphereic gravity waves in seeing spread-F phenomena, the importance of latitudinal gradients in the zonal neutral wind and interhemispheric transport for equatorial electrodynamics, the significance of the midnight pressure bulge in understanding the onset of spread-F and its dependence upon season, and geomagnetic storm effects at low latitudes. This particular proposal seeks funding to allow participation of a graduate student at Dartmouth College in the MISETA initiative. The student would participate in numerical simulations of the MISETA data sets and theoretical studies with the NCAR thermosphere-ionosphere general circulation model (TIGCM) and the thermosphere-ionosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model (TIEGCM).