This project continues studying the theoretical effects that plasma and neutral gas transport processes have on the ionosphere. Spanning three years, this research involves model/data comparisons, theoretical studies of ionospheric dynamics and electrodynamics, polar wind studies, and high-resolution thermosphere studies. The PI will consider the ionosphere as an integrated system, interacting with both the magnetosphere and thermosphere. Almost all of the major ionospheric regions will be studied: E-region, F-region, and topside ionosphere at equatorial, middle and high latitudes. Using mainly current models, the PI will use data from several ionosondes, incoherent scatter radars and satellites. Specifically, the research involves: (1) modeling/data comparisons in support of the CEDAR/PRIMO initiative to explain storm enhanced densities, model the plasma density cliff observed in the southern hemisphere, and validate the predicted climatology for the topside F-region; (2) modeling ionospheric dynamics studies, emphasizing global ionospheric response to gravity waves, problems associated with coupling global ionospheric and MHD magnetospheric models, and interpretation of incoherent scatter radar spectra with neutral networks when ion distributions are non-Maxwellian; (3) studying ionospheric electrodynamics of polar cap arcs, emphasizing on the cross-flow and time delay associated with the formation and decay of arcs; and (4) studying polar wind the effects of centrifugal acceleration, polar rain electrons, precipitating magnetospheric ions, and ionospheric molecular ions on temporal behavior of the flow; and (5) studying the high-resolution thermospheric response to flux-transfer events, with consequent cusp convection jets and plasma patch formation.
