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A Third Generation Field‐Aligned Current Model
Author(s) -
Edwards Thom R.,
Weimer D. R.,
Olsen Nils,
Lühr Hermann,
Tobiska W. K.,
Anderson B. J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2019ja027249
Subject(s) - ionosphere , interplanetary magnetic field , solar wind , physics , geophysics , satellite , field (mathematics) , remote sensing , computational physics , magnetic field , geology , astronomy , mathematics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics
A new empirical model of field‐aligned currents in the Earth's ionosphere has been developed. This model is derived using magnetometer data from the CHAallenging Minisatellite Payload, Ø rsted, and Swarm satellite missions, which has created a database that spans more than 15 years. These data have been associated with solar wind conditions using the Advanced Composition Explorer satellite, as well as theF 10 . 7 ,S 10 . 7 ,M 10 . 7 , andY 10 . 7solar indices. With the wealth of data and associated driving conditions, this model has been developed to reproduce field‐aligned current maps of the ionosphere based on solar wind electric field, interplanetary magnetic field clock angle, dipole tilt angle, solar index, and geographic hemisphere. This model was constructed using a series of spherical cap harmonic analysis fits based on small selections of the overall database. The coefficients of these fits were then used to develop a model that would reproduce these coefficients based on the previously described driving conditions. One of the most notable improvements demonstrated by this model is the ability to show distinct current regions in the ionosphere, particularly with respect to Region 0 currents during northwardB zand highly positive or negativeB y .