HR: 09:30h
AN: SA41A-06 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Remote Sensing Observations of Thermospheric Composition Changes: Disk and Limb Observations and Interpretation
AU: * Paxton, L J
EM: larry.paxton@jhuapl.edu
AF: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd , Laurel, MD 20723 United States
AU: Zhang, Y
EM: yongliang.zhang@jhuapl.edu
AF: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd , Laurel, MD 20723 United States
AU: Meier, R
EM: rmeier@gmu.edu
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, MC 7640, Washington, DC 20375 United States
AU: Strickland, D
EM: dstrick@cpi.com
AF: Computational Physics, 8001 Braddock Rd. Suite 210 , Springfield, VA 22151 United States
AU: Christensen, A
EM: andrew.b.christensen@aerospace.org
AF: The Aerospace Corporation, POB 92957 MS254, Los Angeles, CA 90009 United States
AU: Crowley, G
EM: gcrowley@swri.edu
AF: SwRI, Building 178 6220 Culebra Rd. , San Antonio, TX 78238 United States
AU: Kozyra, J
EM: jukozyra@umich.edu
AF: Univeristy of Michigan, SPRL, Ann Arbor, MI 90210 United States
AB: Far ultraviolet imaging enables us to map the response of the dayside thermosphere to changes in solar and geophysical inputs. In this paper we review what we have learned about the changes in thermospheric composition and their role in determining the ionospheric response by showing results from the GUVI instrument on TIMED for different seasons and local solar times. These results can test models and provide an important and unique means of determining whether the models incorporate the correct physics and whether the models are sensitive to the representation of high latitude inputs. In this paper we will present the comparison of the quiet, seasonal and active composition to various models. Preliminary results from the DMSP/SSUSI instrument, which also measures composition, will be included in the discussion. We find that the response of the upper atmosphere to energy inputs is highly non-linear and depends on the pre-conditioning of the system, the season, and the MLT of the onset of the external, geophysical driver. A continuous data record that traces the changes in the neutral composition in response to the variation in the drivers and conditions of the coupled ionosphere-thermosphere-magnetosphere system is required if we are to understand this complex system. An extended mission for TIMED will help provide that long-term baseline for exploring these drivers and the ITM response.
UR: http://guvi.jhuapl.edu
DE: 0310 Airglow and aurora
DE: 0355 Thermosphere: composition and chemistry
DE: 0358 Thermosphere: energy deposition (3369)
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
DE: 2415 Equatorial ionosphere
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005