Assimilating Physics-Based Model for High-Latitude Electrodynamics Specifications and Forecasts

"We propose to design a physics-based, Kalman filter, data assimilation model of high-latitude electrodynamics. Our new model will provide accurate specifications and forecasts for convection electric fields, particle precipitation, conductances, Jouleheating rates, and field-aligned and ionospheric currents. High-resolution patterns of the electrodynamic parameters will be calculated continuously as a function of time, and a unique feature of the model will be its ability to capture sharpelectrodynamic boundaries and mesoscale structures. The physics-based model will be a time-dependent, high-resolution, coupled model containing a high-latitude ionospheric model and an MHD electrodynamic model of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Thedata to be assimilated will include ground-based magnetometer and radar data, in situ satellite measurements, data from imaging satellites, and GPS-TEC measurements. The data will be assimilated via a Kalman filter technique, which has been successfullyused in meteorology and oceanography. In addition to producing a workable design of an innovative electrodynamic model, we will write a software design document and we will formulate a validation plan. We will also write a comprehensive report on thestrengths and limitations of all current electrodynamic models, and in particular, we will show why they are not capable of providing accurate electrodynamic parameters. The assimilating model of high-la