Arthur Richmond, HAO/NCAR, richmond@ucar.edu
J. Michael Ruohoniemi, JHU/APL, mike_ruohoniemi@jhuapl.edu
Fairview, 4:00-6:00
Friday, June 22, 2001
DRAFT
Electric fields and currents in the high-latitude ionosphere, along with auroral electron and ion precipitations, are important drivers of global thermospheric and ionospheric dynamics through ionization, plasma convection, ion drag, and Joule heating. Quantitative estimates of these time-varying electrodynamic features on a global basis are needed for realistic thermosphere/ionosphere simulation models. Widespread ground- and space-based observations, together with data assimilation procedures, are beginning to provide such global estimates, but require further development and validation. Particularly important for estimations of Joule heating are quantitative evaluations of the influences of small-scale electrodynamic structures, spatial correlations between conductivities and electric fields, and influences of neutral winds. This workshop is intended to facilitate information exchange and coordination of efforts among scientists working in this field.