Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Uncertainty Associated With Modeling The Global Ionosphere, Janelle Jenniges, Ariel Acebal, Larry Gardner, Robert Schunk, Lie Zhu Sep 2013

Uncertainty Associated With Modeling The Global Ionosphere, Janelle Jenniges, Ariel Acebal, Larry Gardner, Robert Schunk, Lie Zhu

Janelle V Jenniges

A study has been conducted of the effect that different physical assumptions have on global models of the electron density distribution. The study was conducted with the Ionosphere Forecast Model (IFM) and the Ionosphere Plasmasphere Model (IPM) developed by Utah State University. Both physics-based, time-dependent, global models use the same empirical models for the neutral atmosphere (MSIS) and neutral wind (Horizontal Wind Model, HWM), but the altitude range, thermal structure, number of ion species, and magnetic 2ield are different. The IFM covers the altitude range from 90-1400 km, calculates the densities for four ions (NO+, O2+, N2+, O+), has a …


Sensitivity Analysis Of Empirical Parameters In The Ionosphere-Plasmasphere Model, Janelle V. Jenniges Feb 2011

Sensitivity Analysis Of Empirical Parameters In The Ionosphere-Plasmasphere Model, Janelle V. Jenniges

Janelle V Jenniges

A sensitivity analysis of empirical parameters used in physics-based models was completed in this study to determine their effect on electron densities and total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere. The model used was the Ionosphere- Plasmasphere Model (IPM) developed by Utah State University. The empirical pa- rameters studied include the O+/O collision frequency, zonal wind, secondary electron production, nighttime E⃗ × B⃗ drifts, and tidal structure. The sensitivity analysis was completed by comparing a default run of the IPM to a run with the parameter ad- justed for three geophysical cases. Many of the comparisons resulted in nonlinear changes …