Project Details
Projekt
Topside ionospheric and plasmaspheric dynamics from observations, machine learning, and physics-based modeling.
Applicant
Professor Yuri Shprits, Ph.D.
Subject Area
Atmospheric Science
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 462853228
Topside ionospheric and plasmaspheric disturbances can result in significant GNSS-navigation-based errors. Moreover, the plasmasphere controls various plasma waves and wave-particle interactions and hence controls the dynamics of the vital populations of the ring current and radiation belts. Despite the vital importance of this plasma population for science and applications, it remains to be poorly understood and quantified. In this project, we will combine the recently developed VERB-CS physics-based model of the plasmasphere, machine-learning-based PINE model of the plasmasphere, and NET model of the top side ionosphere to better model and understand this region in space. We will improve the empirical models by utilizing the entire Van Allen Probes data set and augmenting it with Arase data, which provides unique measurements of the plasmasphere at very low L-shells. Recently suggested interpolation procedures between the top side ionosphere and lower plasmasphere will be used to develop a combined model of the cold plasma from the peak of the ionospheric density up to the geosynchronous orbit.
DFG Programme
Research Units
