One of the most exciting new paradigms in upper atmospheric science is the recognition that processes in the thermosphere and ionosphere can be dramatically impacted by meteorological disturbances which originate in the lower atmosphere. At NRL, we have recently extended the Navy's operational global weather forecast system (NOGAPS) up to near 90-100 km (ALPHA: Advanced Level Physics High Altitude). NOGAPS-ALPHA consists of a physics based forecast model and a 3D variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system. To evaluate the coupling to even higher altitudes we have begun a project to take the temperatures and winds from the top of the NOGAPS-ALPHA model and use them to drive the bottom boundary of the NCAR TIEGCM. Here we present preliminary results for the zonal mean and tidal winds from this coupled system with particular emphasis on the lower thermosphere. We show that the effects of the cold summer mesopause extend throughout much of the summer thermosphere. This highlights the importance of an accurate mesosphere to adequately capture thermospheric climatology. We also present a 2D Fourier analysis and illustrate a rich spectrum of migrating and non-migrating tides and planetary waves such as the quasi 2day wave. Of particular interest are the effects of recent pronounced stratospheric warmings on equatorial winds and electric fields. We present some preliminary results. One issue to be evaluated is the time resolution. The NOGAPS-ALPHA analysis is output every 6 hours; however, the forecast model can be run with 1 hour output. We will discuss the sampling required to properly simulate thermospheric tides.