Theoretical Studies of Dynamical Processes in the Ionosphere

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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. ***