HR: 0800h
AN: SA51A-1117    [Abstracts]
TI: Thermospheric Response to Geomagnetic Storms Observed With Accelerometers
AU: * Bruinsma, S
EM: sean.bruinsma@cnes.fr
AF: CNES, Space Geodesy Department, 18, Avenue E. Belin, Toulouse, 31401 France
AU: Forbes, J M
EM: forbes@colorado.edu
AF: Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Engineering Center ECOT-634 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO CO 80309 United States
AB: Accelerometers on the CHAMP and GRACE satellites have made it possible to accumulate near-continuous simultaneous records of thermosphere density between about 380 and 500 km since March, 2002, and have recorded the response to virtually every significant geomagnetic storm during this period. The CHAMP and GRACE satellites are in near-polar and quasi-circular orbits, and together measure the atmospheric drag accelerations, which enable us to derive the thermospheric density response at four local times. These capabilities offer unique opportunities to study the temporal and latitudinal responses of the thermosphere to geomagnetic disturbances. In the present study, a selection of storm responses are analyzed in terms of their similarities and differences with regard to high and low-latitude responses, including large-scale (~1000 km) and small-scale (~300 km) wave-like structures. A comparative assessment of state-of-the-art empirical models is also provided.
DE: 0350 Pressure, density, and temperature
DE: 0358 Thermosphere: energy deposition (3369)
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005