HR: 13:40h
AN: SA33B-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Solar Cycle and Seasonal Variations in the Energy Balance of the Middle and Upper Atmosphere
AU: Hackert, C L
EM: chackert@swri.org
AF: Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166 United States
AU: * Crowley, G
EM: gcrowley@swri.org
AF: Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166 United States
AU: Yee, J
EM: jenghwa.yee@jhuapi.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory Space Department 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AU: Talaat, E
EM: elsayed.talaat@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory Space Department 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AU: Roble, R G
EM: roble@hao.ucar.edu
AF: NCAR, High Altitude Observatory 3450 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301 United States
AB: The Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIMEGCM) encapsulates our current understanding of the MLTI and provides insight into the processes responsible for changes in the MLTI structure. We use the global 3-D model to determine the energy balance of the middle and upper atmosphere for different portions of the solar cycle and for different seasons. The simulations indicate significant changes in the relative importance of various terms in the energy balance for the different conditions. The TIMED mission seeks to resolve the basic atmospheric structure and energy balance of the Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere between 60 and 180 kilometers. The satellite was launched near solar maximum, and the extended mission is occurring in the declining phase. The model simulations for solar maximum compare favorably with TIMED observations, and provide a framework for the interpretation of the data. Our results indicate that significant new information could be obtained by operating the satellite through solar minimum conditions, and that these data would be important for understanding outstanding MLTI science questions.
DE: 0342 Middle atmosphere--energy deposition
DE: 0358 Thermosphere--energy deposition
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting