All Physics Faculty Publications

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

Volume

94

Issue

A7

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Publication Date

1989

First Page

8993

Last Page

9008

Abstract

Auroral images from the Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE 1) scanning auroral imager have been combined with in situ auroral precipitation data from the DE 2 low altitude plasma instrument to form a time-dependent global auroral energy flux model. This model has both good time (12 min) and spatial (100 km) resolution compared to that currently available for global scale ionospheric and thermospheric modeling. The development and comparison of this model with others are discussed. Data from an aurorally active period, November 25, 1981, are presented and used as a case study for this model. Using a global ionospheric model, the effect of the DE auroral model is contrasted with that of a conventional empirical auroral energy flux model. Major differences in the modeled F region ionosphere are predicted from this comparative study. Specifically, F region densities differ by factors of two to four, while density boundary locations differ by up to 5° in latitude. The results indicate that “pixel size” auroral fine-structure must be included in the global ionosphere and thermosphere models when they are tested against specific ground-based or satellite data sets if an unambiguous result is to be obtained. The longer time constants of the F region are not enough to smooth-out the auroral (spatial and temporal) dynamics.

Comments

Originally published by the American Geophysical Union. Abstract available online through the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.

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