Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Hysell, D. L.
• Fang, T. W.
• Fuller‐Rowell, T. J.

Titel

Modeling Equatorial F‐Region Ionospheric Instability Using a Regional Ionospheric Irregularity Model and WAM‐IPE

Ist Teil von

• Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, 2022-09, Vol.127 (9), p.n/a

Ort / Verlag

Washington: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This paper uses a regional simulation of plasma convective instability in the postsunset equatorial ionosphere together with a global atmosphere/ionosphere/plasmasphere GCM (WAM‐IPE) to forecast irregularities associated with equatorial spread F (ESF) for 1–2 hr after sunset. First, the regional simulation is initialized and forced using ionosphere state parameters derived from campaign data from the Jicamarca Radio Observatory and from empirical models. The irregularities produced by these simulations are found to be quantitatively similar to those observed. Next, the aforementioned state parameters are replaced with parameters from WAM‐IPE, and the resulting departures between the simulated and observed irregularities are noted. In one of five cases, the forecast failed to accurately predict ESF irregularities due to the late reversal of the zonal thermospheric winds. In four of five cases, significant differences between the observed and predicted prereversal enhancement (PRE) of the background vertical drifts resulted in degraded forecast accuracy. This highlights the need for improved PRE forecasting in the global‐scale model. Key Points Equatorial ionospheric F‐region stability can be reproduced quantitatively using a regional data‐driven direct numerical simulation (DNS) DNS model runs become forecasts when initialized and driven with parameters from a comprehensive GCM such as Whole Atmosphere Model with Ionosphere, Plasmasphere, Electrodynamic The post‐sunset background vertical plasma drift and zonal thermospheric wind profile are the most critical forecast parameters