Theoretical Studies of Dynamical Processes in the Ionosphere

9308163申克拟议的研究是对等离子体传输过程对电离层影响的理论研究的继续。这项拟议的研究为期三年，将由五名资深科学家、两名博士后研究员和一名研究生进行。这项研究包括模型/数据和模型/模型比较、电离层动力学和电动力学的理论研究、电离层外流研究(极地风)以及某些等离子体层研究。总体的科学方法是将电离层视为一个与磁层和热层相互作用的综合系统。该小组的不同成员将研究不同但相关的电离层问题，结果将研究几乎所有主要电离层区域，包括E区、F区以及赤道、中纬度和高纬度的电离层顶端。在研究过程中，将对某些模型进行升级和/或改进，但拟议的大部分研究将利用现有的电离层、等离子体层、极风和电动力学模型进行。拟议的研究与国际STEP方案和NSF/CEDAR方案的主要目标之一直接相关，即阐明电离层-磁层-热层系统之间的联系过程。***

9308163 Schunk The proposed research is a continuation of theoretical studies of the effects that plasma transport processes have on the ionosphere. The proposed research spans a 3-year period and will be conducted by five senior scientists, two postdoctoral fellows, and a graduate student. The research involves model/data and model/model comparisons, theoretical studies of ionospheric dynamics and electrodynamics, ionospheric outflow studies (polar wind), and certain plasmaspheric studies. The overall scientific approach is to consider the ionosphere as an integrated system, which interacts with both the magnetosphere and thermosphere. The various members of the group will study different, but related, ionospheric problems, with the result that almost all of the major ionospheric regions will be studied, including the E-region, F-region, and topside ionosphere at equatorial, middle, and high latitudes. In the course of the studies, certain models will be upgraded and/or improved, but the bulk of the proposed studies will be conducted with existing ionospheric, plasmaspheric, polar wind, and electrodynamic models. The proposed research is directly related to one of the main goals of both the international/STEP and NSF/CEDAR programs, which is to elucidate the processes linking the ionosphere-magnetosphere-thermosphere system. ***