HR: 0800h
AN: SA51A-1112    [Abstracts]
TI: Thermospheric Response to the Geomagnetic Storms of November 6-12, 2004
AU: * Sutton, E K
EM: Eric.Sutton@colorado.edu
AF: Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences - University of Colorado, 429 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309 United States
AU: Forbes, J M
EM: Forbes@colorado.edu
AF: Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences - University of Colorado, 429 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309 United States
AU: Nerem, R S
EM: Nerem@colorado.edu
AF: Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences - University of Colorado, 429 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309 United States
AB: Measurements of atmospheric density from the CHAMP satellite near 410 km are used to illustrate the dependence of latitudinal and day/night response of the thermospheric region to elevated levels of magnetic activity. The latitude vs. time evolutions of total mass density at local times near 02:30 and 14:30 hours are inferred from accelerometer measurements on the CHAMP satellite. These results are compared with density predictions from the NRLMSISE-00 empirical density model. Winds from the cross-track axis of CHAMP, predominantly in the zonal direction at low to mid-latitudes and in the meridional direction at high polar latitudes, are analyzed and compared to cross-track ion velocities from the DMSP satellites. The time period considered includes a significant geomagnetic storm from November 6-12, 2004. This time period exhibits a steady elevation in magnetic activity with three noticeable spikes of kP = 8.7. Response during this storm is compared to typical quiet-time behavior before the storm and the relaxation period directly after the storm. This time interval provides an opportunity to examine the polar Thermospheric circulation pattern observing neutral density and North/South winds during both active and quiet magnetic conditions. Day/night differences in the equatorward penetration of both global-scale and small-scale density perturbations are also examined in terms of diurnal variations in the solar-driven meridional flow.
DE: 0358 Thermosphere: energy deposition (3369)
DE: 2788 Magnetic storms and substorms (7954)
DE: 3369 Thermospheric dynamics (0358)
DE: 7954 Magnetic storms (2788)
DE: 7969 Satellite drag (1241)
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005