Simulation of SWE impact at high latitudes

Abstract

The scope of this lecture is to improve the understanding of high latitude ionospheric disturbances caused by space weather impacts, which can be seen within various phenomena at high latitudes. Here we focus on disturbances caused by thermal heating of the ionospheric F-region. Those can be found, e.g. as vertical plasma upwelling or within trans-ionospheric radio communication based on F-region electron density variations.

A simulation of natural phenomena by artificial ionospheric heating is done by inducing and controlling a temperature increase, which finally leads to localized and temporal disturbances. This scenario was at first investigated using a 2D 3 fluid model. Then active artificial heating experiments were following and simulating the natural processes. A coordinated measurement campaign including several EISCAT heating experiments, simultaneously monitored by EISCAT Radar and dual frequency signals transmitted by Global Navigation Satellite Systems such as GPS and GLONASS was performed.

Both numeric and experimental simulations will be discussed and finally compared to the impact of natural phenomena such as the aurora.