UPOS: Field Aligned Currents

Field Aligned Currents

Purpose:

The field aligned currents are the primary means by which electromagnetic energy is transported from Earth's space environment to the ionosphere and polar thermosphere. This energy deposition is generally larger than that due to particle precipitation. These currents are directly linked to horizontal currents in the ionosphere responsible for Ground Induced Currents (GICs).

The predictive field aligned currents model provide estimates of the location and intensity of currents flowing into and out of the ionosphere and of the horizontal currents flowing in the ionosphere. This information can be used to identify regions of significant electromagnetic energy deposition into the neutral atmosphere and regions where GICs are likely to occur.

Inputs:

The model is currently driven directly by solar wind (proton density and speed) and interplanetary magnetic field data. The demonstration version of the model accepts user inputs for these data.

Outputs:

The model produces maps of FAC and ionospheric equivalent current intensity for the northern hemisphere on a geographic grid projected onto a polar view of the Earth. The terminator indicates the locus of 102° zenith angle corresponding to the terminator at ionospheric altitudes (120 km).

Documents: (PDF): User's Guide
Design Document
Support Plan
Version Description

The Application:: FAC Display
FAC Latest Images (Updated every 15 minutes)

For science comments/questions, contact B. Anderson,JHU/APL

For comments/questions, contact L. Burke,JHU/APL