Continuing Theoretical Studies of Dynamical Processes in the Ionosphere

在电离层与热层、外逸层、等离子层、极地风和磁层耦合的背景下，继续进行地球电离层中等离子体和中性气体输运的理论研究。通过模型数据比较、参与全球测量活动和采用新的非相干散射雷达实验设计，进一步发展了中尺度电离层和热层结构的数值模拟、电离层和等离子体层动力学的物理模型以及电动力学磁层-电离层耦合模型。一组调查人员进行了五项具体的研究调查。其中包括：1)利用位于阿拉斯加Poker Flat的新型相控阵先进模块化非相干散射雷达（AMISR）设施消除当前高纬度电离层动态数据中的时空模糊性，研究等离子体向尖端和极光边界等离子体斑点的输运。加拿大雷索雷特湾的AMISR被用来研究极帽中的等离子体斑块形态，研究太阳对准的弧，并研究闪烁的不规则性。2)将数据同化模式与全球或区域协作数据相结合，努力研究电离层和热层对磁暴的响应。3)利用电动力学模型研究了电离层和磁层的同时共轭半球耦合。4)利用电离层电动力学同化作图，量化了极风中的离子和中性流出，并作为极风与外逸层耦合的表现，量化了极光带和极帽中的对流和粒子降水模式。5)利用热层高时空分辨率作图，确定了尖峰区中性气体上升流的程度。

Continuing theoretical studies of plasma and neutral gas transport in the Earth ionosphere are performed within the context of ionospheric coupling to the thermosphere, exosphere, plasmasphere, polar wind, and magnetosphere. Numerical simulations of mesoscale ionospheric and thermospheric structures, physics based models of ionospheric and plasmaspheric dynamics, and electrodynamic magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling models are further developed using model-data comparisons, participation in global measurement campaigns, and using new incoherent scatter radar experiment design. Five specific research investigations are carried out by a team of investigators. These include: 1) Space-time ambiguities in current high-latitude ionospheric dynamic data are removed using the new phased-array Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) facility at Poker Flat Alaska, to study plasma transport into the cusp and auroral boundary plasma blobs. AMISR at Resolute Bay Canada is used to investigate plasma patch morphology in the polar cap, to study sun-aligned arcs, and to study scintillation irregularities. 2) A data assimilation model is used in conjunction with global or regional collaborative data taking efforts to study ionospheric and thermospheric response to magnetic storms. 3) Simultaneous conjugate hemisphere coupling of the ionosphere and magnetosphere is studied using electrodynamic modeling. 4) Assimilative mapping of ionospheric electrodynamics is used to quantify ion and neutral outflows in the polar wind and as a manifestation of polar wind to exosphere coupling, and to quantify convection and particle precipitation patterns in the auroral zone and polar cap. 5) High spatial and temporal resolution mapping of the thermosphere is used to establish the extent of neutral gas upwelling in the cusp region.