89th American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting

Tuesday, 13 January 2009: 4:45 PM
Physics-Based Modeling of Space Weather in the Ionosphere and Thermosphere
Room 126B (Phoenix Convention Center)
Geoff Crowley, Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates, San Antonio, TX
The quest for a physics-based model of space-weather in the ionosphere and thermosphere is still being pursued. This talk will present some of the latest results of ionosphere-thermosphere modeling, and discusses future prospects for development of a forecasting capability. The keys to a functional space-weather model are (1) the availability of accurate inputs: (2) the availability of a fully-coupled model that includes all the important physics. While the use of climatological drivers is useful for understanding the fundamental principles that produce typical scenarios, more realistic inputs are required for higher fidelity simulations. Similarly, if the important coupling processes are not included self-consistently in the model, then the model simulations are unlikely to be accurate. We describe recent work with the fully-coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIMEGCM), and the use of realistic high latitude drivers to simulate real events. Future plans for further development of the model will also be presented.

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