Plasma Transport in the Ionosphere: EISCAT-VHF Observations and Numerical Models

• Published in: Journal of geomagnetism and geoelectricity 1995/09/20, Vol.47(9), pp.847-859
• Main Authors: Robineau, A., Blelly, P.-L., Alcaydé, D., Fontanari, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-1392; 2185-5765
• DOI: 10.5636/jgg.47.847

The understanding of the magnetosphere-ionosphere couplings requires the concomitant use of experimental facilities and numerical tools. The European Incoherent Scatter radar (EISCAT), able to provide instantaneous vertical profiles of the ionosphere, makes possible the development of data processing methods to get boundary parameters, in particular the topside downward electron heat flow: this boundary parameter is crucial for the purpose of quantitative modelling of the ionosphere. It characterises at auroral latitudes the energy transfer from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere and is determinant for the development of fluid numerical models of the ionosphere. This paper presents how with such a boundary condition obtained from the data, the steady-state and the dynamic behaviour of the ionosphere-from 100 to 3000 km-can be quantitatively reproduced with a fluid description of the plasma. Coupling between atmosphere and ionosphere is included through chemistry and collisions while the particle and energy transfers from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere are included through ionisation and energy deposition resulting from electron precipitation.