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Abstract The upper boundary height of the traditional community general circulation model of the ionosphere‐thermosphere system is too low to be applied to the topside ionosphere/thermosphere study. In this study, the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (NCAR‐TIEGCM) was successfully extended upward by four scale heights from 400–600 km to 700–1,200 km depending on solar activity, named TIEGCM‐X. The topside ionosphere and thermosphere simulated by TIEGCM‐X agree well with the observations derived from a topside sounder and satellite drag data. In addition, the neutral density, temperature, and electron density simulated by TIEGCM‐X are morphologically consistent with the NCAR‐TIEGCM simulations before extension. The latitude‐altitude distribution of the equatorial ionization anomaly derived from TIEGCM‐X is more reasonable. During geomagnetic storm events, the thermospheric responses of TIEGCM‐X are similar to NCAR‐TIEGCM. However, the ionospheric storm effects in TIEGCM‐X are stronger than those in NCAR‐TIEGCM and are even opposites at some middle and low latitudes due to the presence of more closed magnetic field lines. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program observations prove that the ionospheric storm effect of TIEGCM‐X is more reasonable. The well‐validated TIEGCM‐X has significant potential applications in ionospheric/thermospheric studies, such as the responses to storms, low‐latitude dynamics, and data assimilation.
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Explaining Solar Flare‐Induced Ionospheric Ion Upflow at Millstone Hill (42.6°N)
Abstract Previous studies have shown that solar flares can significantly affect Earth's ionosphere and induce ion upflow with a magnitude of ∼110 m/s in the topside ionosphere (∼570 km) at Millstone Hill (42.61°N, 71.48°W). We use simulations from the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) and observations from Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) at Millstone Hill to reveal the mechanism of ionospheric ion upflow near the X9.3 flare peak (07:16 LT) on 6 September 2017. The ISR observed ionospheric upflow was captured by the TIEGCM in both magnitude and morphology. The term analysis of the F‐region ion continuity equation during the solar flare shows that the ambipolar diffusion enhancement is the main driver for the upflow in the topside ionosphere, while ion drifts caused by electric fields and neutral winds play a secondary role. Further decomposition of the ambipolar diffusive velocity illustrates that flare‐induced changes in the vertical plasma density gradient is responsible for ion upflow. The changes in the vertical plasma density gradient are mainly due to solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV, 15.5–79.8 nm) induced electron density and temperature enhancements at the F2‐region ionosphere with a minor and indirectly contribution from X‐ray (0–15.5 nm) and ultraviolet (UV, 79.8–102.7 nm).
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- PAR ID:
- 10444595
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
- Volume:
- 127
- Issue:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 2169-9380
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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