The Effects of F-region Neutral Winds on the Topside Ionosphere

该奖项将通过同时测量这两个参数来研究 F 区中性风与上部电离层温度和成分之间的关​​系。 来自南美洲阿雷基帕的夜间 F 区风的广泛数据库将与来自国防气象卫星计划 (DMSP) 卫星的电离层密度、温度和成分的上部纬度剖面相结合。 通过将上部的每日变化与经向 F 区风的变化进行比较，可以确定可能直接归因于中性风的变化。 这项研究将与使用场线半球间等离子体 (FLIP) 模型的建模工作相结合，以验证观测所暗示的关联可以用已知的物理现象重现。 这项研究的核心是了解 F 区风的作用如何改变电离层顶部等离子体的扩散运动。 使用这两种方法，可以阐明中性风和化学在控制顶部电离层中场对准等离子体运动中的作用。

This award will investigate the relationships between F-region neutral winds and the topside ionospheric temperature and composition by using measurements of both these parameters taken simultaneously. An extensive database of nighttime F-region winds form Arequipa, South America, will be combined with topside latitudinal profiles of ionospheric density, temperature, and composition from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites. By comparing the daily variations in the topside with those seen in the meridional F-region wind, changes that may be directly attributable to the neutral winds will be determined. This study will be combined with a modeling effort using the Field Line Interhemispheric Plasma (FLIP) model to verify that the associations implied from the observations can be reproduced with the known physics. The heart of this study is to understand how the diffusive motions of the plasma in the topside of the ionosphere are changed by the action of F-region winds. Using these two approaches the roles of neutral winds and chemistry in controlling the field-aligned plasma motions in the topside ionosphere can be elucidated.