Determination of the Global Electrodynamics of the Aurora during Northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field Utilizing Numerical Modeling and Multiple-Satellite Data

本方案旨在研究高纬度地区电离层与磁层之间的电动力学耦合。特别是，它将研究在行星际磁场（IMF）向北时的耦合。随着IMF By分量的变化，将研究电离层对流动力学和场向电流的变化。POLAR卫星的图像将与POLAR卫星的粒子测量以及DMSP卫星的粒子和磁场测量相结合。这些数据集将用于确定场向电流和电离层电导率。关于电流和电离层对流的信息可以用来确定能量从磁层耦合到电离层的方式。

This proposal is designed to study the electrodynamic coupling between the ionosphere and the magnetosphere at high latitudes. In particular, it will examine the coupling during periods when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is northward. The dynamics of the ionospheric convection and the variation in the field-aligned electric currents (FACs) will be examined as the IMF By component varies. Images from the POLAR satellite will be combined with particle measurements from POLAR as well as particle and magnetic field measurements from the DMSP satellites. These data sets will be used to determine the field-aligned currents and the ionospheric conductivity. The information on the currents and ionospheric convection can then be used to determine the way energy is coupled into the ionosphere from the magnetosphere.