Next Generation Advances in Ionosphere Thermosphere Coupling at Multiple Scales for Environmental Specification and Prediction

[Under construction]
2016 AFOSR MURI
Next Generation Advances in Ionosphere Thermosphere Coupling at Multiple Scales for Environmental Specification and Prediction
PO: Dr. Julie Moses, Space Sciences
PI: Dr. Yue Deng, University of Texas at Austin
Website: TBD

Determining the importance and effects of energy deposition and momentum exchange at different spatial and temporal scales is now a critical question in the study of the ionosphere-thermosphere (I-T) system. Recent new knowledge and enhancements in system-wide observing and simulation capabilities give an unprecedented opportunity for significant advancements to be made in ionosphere-thermosphere coupling at multiple scales. The objectives of this proposed study are to use these new capabilities to improve the specification of the energy and momentum inputs to the system, especially at the meso-scales, and to determine how and why the I-T system responds to these inputs at different scales. Our goals are to

(1) discover the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of meso-scale structures in the geomagnetic forcing.

(2) develop a new model to describe the large-scale and meso-scale response of the I-T system to the forcing.

(3) describe local and non-local responses of the I-T system that result from large-scale and meso-scale energy inputs.

(4) understand how meso-scale structures and their influence on the I-T system are coupled to the magnetosphere.