David Anderson, SEC/NOAA, danderson@sec.noaa.gov
Timothy Fuller-Rowell, SEC/NOAA, tjfr@sec.noaa.gov
Skaggs GC-402, 1:00-3:00 and 4:00-6:00 PM with HLPS
Thursday, June 29, 2000
The GIFT workshop was initiated at the 1997 CEDAR meeting. Three specific areas of interest were identified; 1.) To determine the degree and sources of variability of the mid-latitude ionosphere so that we understand the baseline on which storm-time changes are imposed; 2.) To determine if measurements made at an earlier local time or another latitude/longitude can provide a useful forecast of the equatorial ionosphere; and 3.) To determine the temporal and spatial coherence scales in the various regions of the ionosphere that have implications for both observation requirements and model resolution. In 1998, the first two areas were discussed and last year the GIFT workshop dealt solely with the low latitude/equatorial ionosphere with the theme of how best to combine observations and models to realistically forecast this region.
This year there will be a joint, four-hour GIFT/HLPS (High Latitude Plasma Structures) workshop. The GIFT portion will focus on the auroral E region with presentations relating to 1.) Ground-based and satellite-borne sensors that observe the auroral E region and 2.) Empirical and theoretical models that calculate electron and ion density distributions in this region. The basic questions that will be addressed include 1.) The magnitude and spatial distribution of ionospheric conductivity, 2.) Auroral oval locations, 3.) Scintillation and clutter associated with the auroral oval and 4.) Electron and ion density distributions in the auroral E region.
The agenda will include ample time for discussions and we anticipate that the ideas that result from these discussions will form the basis for an ongoing, enthusiastic exchange among the participants. All interested CEDAR attendees are welcome. A partial list of presenters and topics is given below.