Abstract
The NASA Ionospheric Connection explorer (ICON) will study the coupling between the thermosphere and ionosphere at low- and mid-latitudes by measuring the key parameters. The ICON mission will also employ numerical modeling to support the interpretation of the observations, and examine the importance of different vertical coupling mechanisms by conducting numerical experiments. One of these models is the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model-ICON (TIEGCM-ICON) which will be driven by tidal perturbations derived from ICON observations using the Hough Mode Extension method (HME) and at high latitude by ion convection and auroral particle precipitation patterns from the Assimilative Mapping of Ionospheric Electrodynamics (AMIE). The TIEGCM-ICON will simulate the thermosphere-ionosphere (TI) system during the period of the ICON mission. In this report the TIEGCM-ICON is introduced, and the focus is on examining the effect of the lower boundary on the TI-system to provide some guidance for interpreting future ICON model results.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R.A. Akmaev, G.M. Shved, Modelling of the composition of the lower thermosphere taking account of the dynamics with applications to tidal variations of the forbidden O I 5577 A airglow. J. Atmos. Terr. Phys. 42, 705–716 (1980)
P. Alken, A. Chulliat, S. Maus, Longitudinal and seasonal structure of the ionospheric equatorial electric field. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 118(3), 1298–1305 (2013). doi:10.1029/2012JA018314
A.G. Burns, S.C. Solomon, W. Wang, L. Qian, Y. Zhang, L.J. Paxton, Daytime climatology of ionospheric NmF2 and hmF2 from COSMIC data. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 117(A9), 09315 (2012). doi:10.1029/2012JA017529
R.E. Dickinson, E. Ridley, R. Roble, Thermospheric general circulation with coupled dynamics and composition. J. Atmos. Sci. 41(2), 205–219 (1984)
D.P. Drob et al., An empirical model of the earth’s horizontal wind fields: Hwm07. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 113(A12), 12304 (2008). doi:10.1029/2008JA013668
D.P. Drob et al., An update to the horizontal wind model (HWM): the quiet time thermosphere. Earth Space Sci. 2(7), 301–319 (2015). doi:10.1002/2014EA000089
B. Emery, R. Roble, E. Ridley, A. Richmond, D. Knipp, G. Crowley, D. Evans, F. Rich, S. Maeda, Parameterization of the ion convection and the auroral oval in the NCAR thermospheric general circulation models. Tech. rep., National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder CO, USA (2012). doi:10.5065/D6N29TXZ
J. Emmert, A long-term data set of globally averaged thermospheric total mass density. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2009). doi:10.1029/2009JA014102
J. Emmert, Thermospheric mass density: a review. Adv. Space Res. 56(5), 773–824 (2015). doi:10.1016/j.asr.2015.05.038
J.T. Emmert, J.M. Picone, R.R. Meier, Thermospheric global average density trends, 1967–2007, derived from orbits of 5000 near-Earth objects. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35(5), 05101 (2008). doi:10.1029/2007GL032809
S.L. England, T.J. Immel, J.D. Huba, M.E. Hagan, A. Maute, R. DeMajistre, Modeling of multiple effects of atmospheric tides on the ionosphere: an examination of possible coupling mechanisms responsible for the longitudinal structure of the equatorial ionosphere. J. Geophys. Res. (2010). doi:10.1029/2009JA014894
T. Fang, A. Richmond, J. Liu, A. Maute, C. Lin, C. Chen, B. Harper, Model simulation of the equatorial electrojet in the Peruvian and Philippine sectors. J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys. 70(17), 2203–2211 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2008.04.021
B.G. Fejer, J.W. Jensen, S.-Y. Su, Quiet time equatorial F region vertical plasma drift model derived from ROCSAT-1 observations. J. Geophys. Res. (2008). doi:10.1029/2007JA012801
J.M. Forbes, M.E. Hagan, Thermospheric extensions of the classical expansion functions for semidiurnal tides. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 87(A7), 5253–5259 (1982). doi:10.1029/JA087iA07p05253
J.M. Forbes, R.G. Roble, C.G. Fesen, Acceleration, heating, and compositional mixing of the thermosphere due to upward propagating tides. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 98(A1), 311–321 (1993). doi:10.1029/92JA00442
K. Häusler, H. Lühr, Nonmigrating tidal signals in the upper thermospheric zonal wind at equatorial latitudes as observed by CHAMP. Ann. Geophys. 27(7), 2643–2652 (2009)
K. Häusler, H. Lühr, M.E. Hagan, A. Maute, R.G. Roble, Comparison of CHAMP and TIME-GCM nonmigrating tidal signals in the thermospheric zonal wind. J. Geophys. Res., Atmos. (2010). doi:10.1029/2009JD012394
K. Häusler, M.E. Hagan, J.M. Forbes, X. Zhang, E. Doornbos, S. Bruinsma, G. Lu, Intraannual variability of tides in the thermosphere from model simulations and in situ satellite observations. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 120(1), 751–765 (2015). doi:10.1002/2014JA020579
R.A. Heelis, J.K. Lowell, R.W. Spiro, A model of the high-latitude ionospheric convection pattern. J. Geophys. Res. 87(A8), 6339–6345 (1982). doi:10.1029/JA087iA08p06339
D. Hui, B.G. Fejer, Daytime plasma drifts in the equatorial lower ionosphere. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 120(11), 9738–9747 (2015). doi:10.1002/2015JA021838
T.J. Immel, E. Sagawa, S.L. England, S.B. Henderson, M.E. Hagan, S.B. Mende, H.U. Frey, C.M. Swenson, L.J. Paxton, Control of equatorial ionospheric morphology by atmospheric tides. Geophys. Res. Lett. (2006). doi:10.1029/2006GL026161
H. Jin, Y. Miyoshi, H. Fujiwara, H. Shinagawa, K. Terada, N. Terada, M. Ishii, Y. Otsuka, A. Saito, Vertical connection from the tropospheric activities to the ionospheric longitudinal structure simulated by a new Earth’s whole atmosphere-ionosphere coupled model. J. Geophys. Res. 116(A1), 01316 (2011). doi:10.1029/2010JA015925
M. Jones, J.M. Forbes, M.E. Hagan, A. Maute, Impacts of vertically propagating tides on the mean state of the ionosphere-thermosphere system. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 119(3), 2197–2213 (2014). doi:10.1002/2013JA019744
M. Jones, J.M. Forbes, M.E. Hagan, Solar cycle variability in mean thermospheric composition and temperature induced by atmospheric tides. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 121(6), 5837–5855 (2016). doi:10.1002/2016JA022701
H. Kil, L.J. Paxton, The origin of the nonmigrating tidal structure in the column number density ratio of atomic oxygen to molecular nitrogen. Geophys. Res. Lett. 38(19), 19108 (2011). doi:10.1029/2011GL049432
H. Kil, S.-J. Oh, M.C. Kelley, L.J. Paxton, S.L. England, E. Talaat, K.-W. Min, S.-Y. Su, Longitudinal structure of the vertical \(E\times B\) drift and ion density seen from ROCSAT-1. Geophys. Res. Lett. (2007). doi:10.1029/2007GL030018
J.-L. Le Mouël, P. Shebalin, A. Chulliat, The field of the equatorial electrojet from CHAMP data. Ann. Geophys. 24(2), 515–527 (2006). doi:10.5194/angeo-24-515-2006
J.L. Lean, S.E. McDonald, J.D. Huba, J.T. Emmert, D.P. Drob, C.L. Siefring, Geospace variability during the 2008-2009 whole heliosphere intervals. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 119(5), 3755–3776 (2014). doi:10.1002/2013JA019485
C.H. Lin, C.C. Hsiao, J.Y. Liu, C.H. Liu, Longitudinal structure of the equatorial ionosphere: time evolution of the four-peaked EIA structure. J. Geophys. Res. (2007). doi:10.1029/2007JA012455
H. Liu, S. Watanabe, Seasonal variation of the longitudinal structure of the equatorial ionosphere: does it reflect tidal influences from below? J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2008). doi:10.1029/2008JA013027
H. Liu, M. Yamamoto, H. Lühr, Wave-4 pattern of the equatorial mass density anomaly: a thermospheric signature of tropical deep convection. Geophys. Res. Lett. (2009). doi:10.1029/2009GL039865
L. Liu, H. Le, Y. Chen, M. He, W. Wan, X. Yue, Features of the middle- and low-latitude ionosphere during solar minimum as revealed from cosmic radio occultation measurements. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2011). doi:10.1029/2011JA016691
H. Liu, H. Jin, Y. Miyoshi, H. Fujiwara, H. Shinagawa, Upper atmosphere response to stratosphere sudden warming: local time and height dependence simulated by GAIA model. Geophys. Res. Lett. 40(3), 635–640 (2013). doi:10.1002/Geophys.Res.Letters.50146
H. Lühr, S. Maus, M. Rother, Noon-time equatorial electrojet: its spatial features as determined by the champ satellite. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2004). doi:10.1029/2002JA009656
A. Maute, A.D. Richmond, R.G. Roble, Sources of low-latitude ionospheric \(E\times B\) drifts and their variability. J. Geophys. Res. (2012). doi:10.1029/2011JA017502
J. Oberheide, J.M. Forbes, X. Zhang, S.L. Bruinsma, Wave-driven variability in the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere system from TIMED observations: what contributes to the “wave 4”? J. Geophys. Res. (2011). doi:10.1029/2010JA015911
J. Oberheide, J.M. Forbes, X. Zhang, S.L. Bruinsma, Climatology of upward propagating diurnal and semidiurnal tides in the thermosphere. J. Geophys. Res. (2011). doi:10.1029/2011JA016784
N.M. Pedatella, A. Maute, Impact of the semidiurnal lunar tide on the midlatitude thermospheric wind and ionosphere during sudden stratosphere warmings. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 120(12), 10,740–10,753 (2015). doi:10.1002/2015JA021986
N.M. Pedatella, A.D. Richmond, A. Maute, H.-L. Liu, Impact of semidiurnal tidal variability during ssws on the mean state of the ionosphere and thermosphere. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2016). doi:10.1002/2016JA022910
J.M. Picone, A.E. Hedin, D.P. Drob, A.C. Aikin, Nrlmsise-00 empirical model of the atmosphere: Statistical comparisons and scientific issues. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2002). doi:10.1029/2002JA009430
L. Qian, S.C. Solomon, T.J. Kane, Seasonal variation of thermospheric density and composition. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2009). doi:10.1029/2008JA013643
L. Qian, A.G. Burns, S.C. Solomon, W. Wang, Annual/semiannual variation of the ionosphere. Geophys. Res. Lett. 40(10), 1928–1933 (2013). doi:10.1002/grl.50448
L. Qian et al., The NCAR TIE-GCM: a community model of the coupled thermosphere/ionosphere system, in Modeling the Ionosphere-Thermosphere System. Geophys. Monogr. Ser, vol. 201 (2014), pp. 73–83
P. Richards, J. Fennelly, D. Torr, EUVAC: a solar EUV flux model for aeronomic calculations. J. Geophys. Res. 99, 8981–8992 (1994)
A. Richmond, Ionospheric electrodynamics, in Handbook of Atmospheric Electrodynamics, vol. II, ed. by H. Volland (CRC Press, New York, 1995), pp. 249–290
A. Richmond, A. Maute, Ionospheric electrodynamics modeling, in Modeling the Ionosphere-Thermosphere, ed. by R.S.J.D. Huba, G. Khazanov. AGU Geophysical Monograph Series, vol. 201 (Wiley, Chichester, 2013), p. 417. doi:10.1002/9781118704
A.D. Richmond, E.C. Ridley, R.G. Roble, A thermosphere/ionosphere general circulation model with coupled electrodynamics. Geophys. Res. Lett. 19(6), 601–604 (1992). doi:10.1029/92GL00401
R. Roble, E. Ridley, An auroral model for the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM). Ann. Geophys. 5A, 369–382 (1987)
R. Roble, E. Ridley, A. Richmond, A coupled thermosphere/ionosphere general circulation model. Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 1325–1328 (1988)
D.E. Siskind, D.P. Drob, K.F. Dymond, J.P. McCormack, Simulations of the effects of vertical transport on the thermosphere and ionosphere using two coupled models. J. Geophys. Res. 119(2), 1172–1185 (2014). doi:10.1002/2013JA019116
S.C. Solomon, A.G. Burns, B.A. Emery, M.G. Mlynczak, L. Qian, W. Wang, D.R. Weimer, M. Wiltberger, Modeling studies of the impact of high-speed streams and co-rotating interaction regions on the thermosphere-ionosphere. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. (2012). doi:10.1029/2011JA017417
R. Stoneback, R. Heelis, A. Burrell, W. Coley, B.G. Fejer, E. Pacheco, Observations of quiet time vertical ion drift in the equatorial ionosphere during the solar minimum period of 2009. J. Geophys. Res. 116(A12) (2011)
R.A. Stoneback, N.K. Malakar, D.J. Lary, R.A. Heelis, Specifying the equatorial ionosphere using cindi on c/nofs, cosmic, and data interpolating empirical orthogonal functions. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 118(10), 6706–6722 (2013). doi:10.1002/jgra.50596
E.K. Sutton, J.P. Thayer, W. Wang, S.C. Solomon, X. Liu, B.T. Foster, A self-consistent model of helium in the thermosphere. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 120(8), 6884–6900 (2015). doi:10.1002/2015JA021223
E. Thébault et al., International geomagnetic reference field: the 12th generation. Earth Planets Space 67(1), 1–19 (2015)
D.R. Weimer, Improved ionospheric electrodynamic models and application to calculating joule heating rates. J. Geophys. Res. (2005). doi:10.1029/2004JA010884
Y. Yamazaki, A.D. Richmond, A theory of ionospheric response to upward-propagating tides: electrodynamic effects and tidal mixing effects. J. Geophys. Res. 118(9), 5891–5905 (2013). doi:10.1002/jgra.50487
Y. Yamazaki et al., Ground magnetic effects of the equatorial electrojet simulated by the tie-gcm driven by timed satellite data. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 119(4), 3150–3161 (2014). doi:10.1002/2013JA019487
Y. Zhang, S. England, L.J. Paxton, Thermospheric composition variations due to nonmigrating tides and their effect on ionosphere. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37(17), 17103 (2010). doi:10.1029/2010GL044313
Acknowledgements
A.M. would like to thank A.D. Richmond for comments on an earlier draft. A.M. was supported by NASA grant NNX14AP03G. The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. ICON is supported by NASA’s Explorers Program through contracts NNG12FA45C and NNG12FA42I. We would like to acknowledge high-performance computing support from Yellowstone (ark:/85065/d7wd3xhc) provided by NCAR’s Computational and Information Systems Laboratory, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The author would like to thank the reviewers for their helpful comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission
Edited by Doug Rowland and Thomas J. Immel
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maute, A. Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model for the Ionospheric Connection Explorer: TIEGCM-ICON. Space Sci Rev 212, 523–551 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-017-0330-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-017-0330-3