The Effects of F-region Neutral Winds on the Topside Ionosphere

University Of Texas At Dallas, Richardson TX

Investigators

Abstract

This award will investigate the relationships between F-region neutral winds and the topside ionospheric temperature and composition by using measurements of both these parameters taken simultaneously. An extensive database of nighttime F-region winds form Arequipa, South America, will be combined with topside latitudinal profiles of ionospheric density, temperature, and composition from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites. By comparing the daily variations in the topside with those seen in the meridional F-region wind, changes that may be directly attributable to the neutral winds will be determined. This study will be combined with a modeling effort using the Field Line Interhemispheric Plasma (FLIP) model to verify that the associations implied from the observations can be reproduced with the known physics. The heart of this study is to understand how the diffusive motions of the plasma in the topside of the ionosphere are changed by the action of F-region winds. Using these two approaches the roles of neutral winds and chemistry in controlling the field-aligned plasma motions in the topside ionosphere can be elucidated.