(1) Title: Electromagnetic energy deposition to the high-latitude ionosphere

Electromagnetic energy deposited in the form of Joule heat into the ionosphere is transferred to thermospheric neutrals whose temperatures, chemical reaction rates, density scale heights, and wind patterns can be altered. Moreover, altered density scale heights affect drag coefficients and alter neutral wind patterns affecting global electric fields. To date, no systematic method has been developed for incorporation of the Poynting flux into existing models. Students will be encouraged to analyze DMSP data and to develop an automated technique for cleaning up magnetic field datasets. The goal of this topic is to develop spatial maps of Poynting flux for different activity levels and/or solar wind conditions. Poynting flux derived from DMSP observations will be used to estimate Joule heating as input for the thermosphere-ionosphere electrodynamics general circulation model (TIEGCM).

(2) Title: Understanding Variability in Ion Flows and Auroral Precipitation

The heating in the upper atmosphere is important to understand for satellite drag prediction. Times exist when the heating due to auroral processes far exceeds the heating due to solar illumination. It is during these times that our ability to predict satellite orbits is the worst. This is primarily because we lack an understanding of the energy deposition into
the thermosphere due to both Joule and auroral heating. These heating sources are intimately related, since the aurora creates electron density, which is needed for Joule heating. In addition, auroral arcs are typically associated with strong electric fields, which drive Joule heating. On the large scale, when the aurora increases, the electric fields increase. On smaller scales, studies have shown that the aurora and the electric fields are sometime correlated, sometime anti-correlated and sometimes not correlated at all. We are interested in investigations that explore the relationship between auroral precipitation, ion flows, and the heating that results from these utilizing Defense Meteorological Satellite Program data.

(3) Title: Remote sensing of plasmasphere density using field line resonances

The plasmasphere is a vast region of the inner magnetosphere filled with trapped low energy ions and electrons of ionospheric origin. The plasmasphere is important for several reasons including accurately specifying the propagation of waves which contribute to the decay and acceleration of energetic particles in the radiation belts. Precise knowledge of the plasmasphere is therefore important for accurately predicting the evolution of energetic particle populations. Time-dependant three-dimensional models of the plasmasphere are needed to accurately model the field-aligned plasma densities, composition, and temperatures. This effort will combine the first principles 1-d field line inter hemispheric plasma (FLIP) model with observationally determined field line resonances (FLRs) to produce a more reliable dynamic three-dimensional plasmasphere. FRLs will be determined from pairs of ground magnetometers at appropriate L-values. The main goal of this effort will be to determine quantitative ways to parametrize the FLIP model based on the FLR values from the ground magnetometers.

(4) Title: Modeling penetration electric fields during magnetic storms

The objective of this project is to develop the modeling capability of penetration electric fields. Penetration electric fields play a critical role in controlling the ionospheric electrodynamics
well understood how penetration electric fields are quantitatively related to the interplanetary electric field, how long penetration electric fields can last, what determines the shielding efficiency, and what the interplay of penetration and dynamo electric fields is during the course of magnetic storms. In this project, the field-aligned currents derived from the Iridium
magnetometer data will be used to drive the Thermosphere-Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) to simulate penetration electric fields and low-latitude ionospheric disturbances. The simulation results will be compared with measurements of ionospheric incoherent scatter radars and satellites.