CEDAR: Solar Activity Variations in the Topside Ionosphere Using Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)

University Of Texas At Dallas, Richardson TX

Investigators

Abstract

This project will utilize data taken from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) during an entire solar cycle to expand our knowledge of the topside ionosphere. The topside ionosphere at low and middle latitudes is strongly influenced by the behavior of the low altitude F region. Changing solar flux can produce large variations in the F region ionization rate. In addition, it is well known that F region winds modulate the height and the density of the F peak. This can further affect the ion composition and temperatures in the topside ionosphere. These changes are functions of various parameters like latitude, longitude, season, time of day as well as solar activity. The objective of this project is to establish the observed relationships between F region dynamics and the topside composition and temperatures over a complete solar cycle as functions of the above-mentioned parameters. This work will be carried out using satellite data. The observed average solar cycle variations in the topside will also be compared with the F peak data reflected in the IRI model and in the community computational models like SAMI2.