Parameters for Weimer ionospheric models

Weimer form 'run_weimer.cgi'

This is a CCMC-3DView IDL visualization version:
Weimer model plots appear in the same format as all other (ionosphere) models' plots.

The available versions of the Weimer model run instantly and do not require a run request.
Inputs to the model contain the time or Earth dipole tilt angle and selected solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field inputs. The electric potential pattern and the field-aligned currents (FAC), if available, in the polar ionosphere are determined from a database of satellite measurements.

The interface for the Weimer model contains six sections:

1. Weimer model version selection Three versions are currently available:

Weimer-2K (original version delivered to CCMC)
Weimer-2K_2 (Weimer-2K, release 2; version includes a FAC model and was used for metrics studies)
Weimer-2005

2. Earth System Input Parameters:

Use Date enter date of model prediction (format: dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm)
Select tilt of Earth's dipole: instead of using a date, the user can specify the tilt directly (within the valid range of tilts encountered at Earth).
With Use Date activated, the corresponding tilt will be returned into the text field as a default for the next plot.

3. Solar Wind Input Parameters:

Specify |B|, angle enter strength of IMF transverse to V_xand IMF clock angle (defaults: |B|=5, angle=180°.) or
Specify B_y and B_z components (defaults: B_y=0, B_z=-5).
Plasma velocity V: (default: V=400 km/s)
Plasma Density N: (default: N=5 protons/cm³)

Defaults for the solar wind and IMF values represent average conditions. Limits implemented denote what can reasonable be expected in the solar wind. The model, however may have additional limitations.
NOTE:A combination of several extreme selections (large values together, e.g., N=100, V=1100km, and B_z=-60), although permitted, provides model output for illustration only.

4. Display Parameters

Quantities Q1 and Q2: Available are PHI (electric potential in kV) and FAC (field-aligned currents in μAm^-2)
Plot Mode (parameters applicable to the plot modes appear in the form below):
- ColorContour:(default) render single Color Contour Plot of Q1 for given solar wind and IMF conditions
- Color+Contour plots contour plo of Q2 on top of color contour plot of Q1
- Geo-ColorContour Use geographic (not magnetic) coordinates for ColorContour plot.
- Geo-Color+Contour Use geographic (not magnetic) coordinates for Color+Contour plot.
Image magnification (default: 1.0) resize image by up to factor 2.
Fix Contour Range (applies ot Q1 in Color Contour plot only)
- Number of levels, nlevels, denotes number of color levels greater than 0. The color contour plot will be rendered in a symmetric color scale containing 2*nlevels+1 colors.
- Level Interval set interval for PHI in kV or interval for FAC in μAm^-2. Plot range will be from -(nlevels+0.5)*(level interval) to +(nlevels+0.5)*(level interval), e.g., from -55 kV to 55 kV for nlevels=5 and level interval of 10 kV.
  White or black areas indicate values outside of the fixed plot range.
Minimum Latitude (default: 50 deg.) - restrict area to region around poles (north and south of latitude given for respective hemisphere).

5. Display Options

use Al index Al index is optional (default if used: -500nT)
plot hemispheres: select one of:
- plot both hemispheres (default)
- plot northern hemisphere
- plot southern hemisphere

6. List data (activated by checking button):

At positions specified (default selection): enter latitudes and local times (one number for each position)
List data from plot: Obtain gridded output of quantities as they appear in plot.

Last updated: Apr. 2, 2007 - Lutz Rastätter