Experimental and Modeling Studies of Polar Cap Patches and Auroral Blobs

该项目的目的是研究高纬度电离层大尺度等离子体结构的形成和演化。要研究的等离子体结构是F区等离子体密度的100到1000公里尺度的增强。该程序将观测与数值模拟相结合。观测计划包括使用Sondrestrom和EISCAT雷达以及其他地面仪器进行协调测量。建模工作包括由特定观测和各种理论情景指导的模拟。为了支持这项工作，将根据需要改进现有的高纬度F区模型，以包括多物种、E区化学以及离子和电子温度的计算。这项工作的主要目标是了解控制极冠中等离子体斑块的外观、大小和形状以及极光椭圆形中的电离增强的机制。这些结果将为磁层-电离层耦合的物理学提供有价值的见解。

The purpose of this project is to study the formation and evolution of large scale plasma structures in the high latitude ionosphere. The plasma structures to be studied are 100 to 1000 km scale enhancements of the F region plasma density. The program combines observations with numerical modeling. The observational program consists of coordinated measurements using the Sondrestrom and EISCAT radars, as well as other ground-based instruments. The modeling effort involves simulations guided by both specific observations and various theoretical scenarios. In support of this effort, an existing high-latitude F-region model will be improved as needed to include multi-species, E-region chemistry, and calculations of the ion and electron temperatures. The primary goal of this effort is to understand the mechanisms that control the appearance, size, and shape of the plasma patches in the polar cap and the ionization enhancements in the auroral oval. The results will provide valuable insights into the physics of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.