All Physics Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume
103
Issue
A9
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Publication Date
1998
First Page
20,669
Last Page
20,684
Abstract
The results of two ionospheric simulations are compared with each other and with ionospheric observations of the southern hemisphere for the magnetic cloud passage event of January 14, 1988. For most of the event one simulation agrees with observations, while the other does not. Electric fields and electron precipitation patterns generated by a magnetospheric MHD model are used as inputs to a physical model of the ionosphere in the successful simulation, while empirical electric fields and electron precipitation are used as the inputs for the second simulation. In spite of ionospheric summer conditions a large and deep polar hole is developed. This is seen in the in situ plasma observations made by the DMSP-F8 satellite. The hole is surprisingly present during both northward and southward IMF conditions. It is deepest for the storm phase of the southward IMF period. A well-defined tongue of ionization is formed during this period. These features have been reproduced by the TDIM-MHD simulation and to a lesser extent by the TDIM-empirical simulation. However, the model simulations have not been able to generate a storm enhanced density where one was observed by DMSP-F8 during the initial phase of the storm. The differences between the two F region ionospheric simulations are attributed to differences in the magnetospheric electric fields and precipitation patterns used as inputs. This study provides a unique first simulation of the ionosphere's response to self-consistent electric field and auroral precipitation patterns over a 24-hour period that leads into a major geomagnetic storm.
Recommended Citation
Sojka, J. J., R. W. Schunk, M. D. Bowline, J. Chen, S. Slinker, J. Fedder, and P. J. Sultan (1998), Ionospheric storm simulations driven by magnetospheric MHD and by empirical models with data comparisons, J. Geophys. Res., 103(A9), 20,669–20,684, doi:10.1029/98JA01744.
Comments
Originally published by the American Geophysical Union. Publisher's PDF available thorough the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.