A. Robineau et al., PLASMA TRANSPORT IN THE IONOSPHERE - EISCAT-VHF OBSERVATIONS AND NUMERICAL-MODELS, Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity, 47(9), 1995, pp. 847-859
The understanding of the magnetosphere-ionosphere couplings requires t
he concomitant use of experimental facilities and numerical tools. The
European Incoherent Scatter radar (EISCAT), able to provide instantan
eous vertical profiles of the ionosphere, makes possible the developme
nt of data processing methods to get boundary parameters, in particula
r the topside downward electron heat flow: this boundary parameter is
crucial for the purpose of quantitative modelling of the ionosphere. I
t characterises at auroral latitudes the energy transfer from the magn
etosphere to the ionosphere and is determinant for the development of
fluid numerical models of the ionosphere. This paper presents how with
such a boundary condition obtained from the data, the steady-state an
d the dynamic behaviour of the ionosphere-from 100 to 3000 km-can be q
uantitatively reproduced with a fluid description of the plasma. Coupl
ing between atmosphere and ionosphere is included through chemistry an
d collisions while the particle and energy transfers from the magnetos
phere to the ionosphere are included through ionisation and energy dep
osition resulting from electron precipitations.