9400877 Killeen The objective of this research is to continue and extend a series of theoretical studies of the Earth's upper atmosphere, involving applying various post processor computer programs to study the physically significant processes that cause change in the various fields calculated by the model. The focus of this work will be on two areas: (1) existing post processors will be maintained and modified to match the continuing development of the Thermosphere/Ionosphere Electrodynamic General Circulation Model to provide improved diagnostics of thermospheric processes and aid in CEDAR experimental investigations; and (2) a series of scientific studies are proposed: a thermodynamic term analysis of wave modes, a study of momentum dissipation's role on particle transport, causes of the distribution of minor species, ion-neutral and neutral-ion coupling, and so forth. Finally, this project will be collaborative with the National Center for Atmospheric Research. ***
