Title
Data-driven numerical simulations of equatorial spread F in the Peruvian sector 3: Solstice
Date Issued
01 December 2015
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Jicamarca Radio Observatory
Publisher(s)
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Abstract
We present results from a continuing effort to simulate equatorial spread F (ESF) using observations from the Jicamarca Radio Observatory near Lima, Peru. Jicamarca measures vertical and zonal plasma drifts along with plasma number density profiles overhead. The number density profiles are used to initialize a three-dimensional regional model of the ionosphere capable of simulating plasma density irregularities produced during ESF conditions. The vertical drifts measurements are used to drive the numerical simulation continuously. Neutral winds are derived from the new Horizontal Wind Model '14 (HWM-14) model, and the zonal winds are scaled so as to make the zonal plasma flows at the start of the simulation agree with the ISR profile measurements. Coherent scatter radar imagery from Jicamarca is used to validate the simulation results. Campaign data were collected in April and December 2014, and a few events representative of low and high ESF activity were selected for analysis. The numerical simulations are able to reproduce the level of activity observed along with the gross features of the ESF irregularities and radar plumes. Data from a network of HF beacons are being incorporated into the forecast analysis in order to elucidate radar plumes which sometimes appear even when the simulation fails to predict them.
Start page
10809
End page
10822
Volume
120
Issue
12
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Meteorología y ciencias atmosféricas
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84957848938
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
ISSN of the container
21699380
Sponsor(s)
This work was supported by award FA9550-12-1-0462 from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to Cornell University. The Jicamarca Radio Observatory is a facility of the Instituto Geofisíco del Perú operated with support from NSF award AGS-1433968 through Cornell. The help of the staff is much appreciated. Data used for this publication are available through the Madrigal database.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus