Theoretical Studies of Dynamical Processes in the Ionosphere

该项目继续研究等离子体和中性气体传输过程对电离层的理论影响。这项研究历时三年，包括模式/数据比较、电离层动力学和电动力学的理论研究、极地风研究和高分辨率热层研究。PI将把电离层视为一个综合系统，与磁层和热层相互作用。几乎所有的主要电离层区域都将被研究：E区、F区和赤道、中纬度和高纬度的上层电离层。PI主要使用当前的模型，将使用来自几个电离层探测仪、非相干散射雷达和卫星的数据。具体地说，这项研究涉及：(1)模拟/数据比较，以支持Cedar/Primo计划，以解释风暴增强密度，模拟南半球观测到的等离子体密度悬崖，并验证上部F区的预测气候学；(2)模拟电离层动力学研究，强调全球电离层对重力波的响应，与全球电离层和MHD磁层模式耦合有关的问题，以及当离子分布为非麦克斯韦分布时与中性网络的非相干散射雷达谱的解释；(3)研究极帽弧电动力学，重点是与弧线的形成和衰减有关的交叉流动和时间延迟；以及(4)研究极地风的离心力加速、极地雨电子、磁层沉淀离子和电离层分子离子对气流时间行为的影响；(5)研究高分辨率热层对通量传输事件的响应，以及随后的尖点对流急流和等离子体斑块的形成。

This project continues studying the theoretical effects that plasma and neutral gas transport processes have on the ionosphere. Spanning three years, this research involves model/data comparisons, theoretical studies of ionospheric dynamics and electrodynamics, polar wind studies, and high-resolution thermosphere studies. The PI will consider the ionosphere as an integrated system, interacting with both the magnetosphere and thermosphere. Almost all of the major ionospheric regions will be studied: E-region, F-region, and topside ionosphere at equatorial, middle and high latitudes. Using mainly current models, the PI will use data from several ionosondes, incoherent scatter radars and satellites. Specifically, the research involves: (1) modeling/data comparisons in support of the CEDAR/PRIMO initiative to explain storm enhanced densities, model the plasma density cliff observed in the southern hemisphere, and validate the predicted climatology for the topside F-region; (2) modeling ionospheric dynamics studies, emphasizing global ionospheric response to gravity waves, problems associated with coupling global ionospheric and MHD magnetospheric models, and interpretation of incoherent scatter radar spectra with neutral networks when ion distributions are non-Maxwellian; (3) studying ionospheric electrodynamics of polar cap arcs, emphasizing on the cross-flow and time delay associated with the formation and decay of arcs; and (4) studying polar wind the effects of centrifugal acceleration, polar rain electrons, precipitating magnetospheric ions, and ionospheric molecular ions on temporal behavior of the flow; and (5) studying the high-resolution thermospheric response to flux-transfer events, with consequent cusp convection jets and plasma patch formation.