Characterization of Thermospheric Neutral Winds Using Empirical Modeling and Observational Validation
Date
2017
Authors
DANDENAULT, PATRICK BRYAN
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Abstract
An understanding of the coupling between the neutral winds of the thermosphere and the ionosphere is critical to understanding ionospheric dynamics. Measurements of upper atmospheric neutral air motion are required for any in-depth study of ionosphere-thermosphere coupling. The neutral wind is a major contributor to space weather through its effect on many of the observable quantities and physical processes of the ionosphere, including the density profiles of the ionospheric F region and the generation and maintenance of electric fields. The behavior of neutral winds is one of the most important and poorly known factors affecting the day-to-day variations in ionospheric electron and ion densities because it controls the whole electron density profile by altering the rate at which the ions diffuse along magnetic field lines. In fact, truly quantitative modeling of F region densities is not possible without an accurate specification of neutral winds. Measured neutral winds are important for validating winds produced from general circulation models.
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Physics, Atmospheric sciences, Atmospheric chemistry, CHEMISTRY, DYNAMICS, TEC, THERMOSPHERE, WINDS