CAREER: Magnetospheric Energy Input Uncertainty and its Impact on the Thermosphere/Ionosphere

该项目将使用各种模拟和同化代码来研究磁层能量输入的准确性以及电离层和热层的结果响应。该项目将特别评估非流体静力过程在热层/电离层对磁层强迫的响应中的意义。将使用的数据源包括来自Fabry-Perot干涉仪的中性风数据，来自CHAMP、DMSP和NOAA/POES的卫星数据。将要解决的科学问题是：(1)如何减少热层和电离层焦耳加热的不确定性，(2)由突然能量输入引起的非流体静力过程的全球后果是什么，以及这些过程对热层风和密度的重要性如何，以及(3)导致尖峰区域中性密度增强的机制是什么。该项目的教育目标包括研究生和本科生进行的研究活动。

This project will use a variety of simulation and assimilative codes to investigate the accuracy of the energy inputs to the magnetosphere and the resulting response of the ionosphere and thermosphere. In particular the project will assess the significance of non-hydrostatic processes in the thermosphere/ionosphere response to magnetospheric forcing. The data sources that will be used will include neutral wind data from Fabry-Perot interferometers, satellite data from CHAMP, DMSP and NOAA/POES. Scientific questions that will be addressed are (1) how can the uncertainty in the Joule heating in the thermosphere and ionosphere be reduced, (2) what are the global ramifications of non-hydrostatic processes caused by sudden energy inputs and how significant are the processes on thermospheric winds and density, and (3) what are the mechanisms that lead to the enhanced neutral density in the cusp regions.The educational goals of the project include research activities to be carried out by both graduate students and undergraduate students.