Weimer Ionosphere Models

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Model Developer(s)
Daniel R. Weimer
Solana Scientific Inc.

Model Description
Weimer models are statistical electric potential models for the high-latitude ionosphere, developed by Daniel Weimer of Solana Scientific Inc. Past satellite measurements of ionospheric electric fields, and the simultaneous measurements of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions, have been used to create an empirical model of the high-latitude electric potential pattern.

The CCMC is using the IDL version of the Weimer models and added code to accomodate the input from the CCMC-developed web interface. The CCMC is running Weimer-2005 model in real time, driven by ACE solar wind data.

Model Input
Control parameters include the solar wind plasma number density N, velocity V_x (along Sun-Earth line), the transverse orientation of the solar wind magnetic field B_y, B_z (in GSM coordinates), and the orientation of the Earth's magnetic axis at the time of interest. An optional parameter is the Auroral Electrojet, AL index. These parameters are used to set up the model for the desired conditions, after which the only needed input parameters are the geomagnetic latitude and magnetic local time (MLT), in AACGM (Altitude Adjusted Corrected Geomagnetic) coordinates.

Model Output
The output from the model consists of the ionospheric electrostatic potential, in kilovolts (kV), as a function of the input AACGM latitude and MLT.

References and relevant publications

Weimer, D. R., Models of high-latitude electric potentials derived with a least error fit of spherical harmonic coefficients, Journal of Geophysical Research., 100, 19,595-19,607, 1995.
Weimer, D. R., A flexible IMF dependent model of high-latitude electric potentials having "space weather" applications, Geophysical Research Letter, 23, 2549-2553, 1996.
Weimer, D. R., An improved model of ionospheric electric potentials including substorm perturbations and application to the GEM November 24, 1996 event, Journal of Geophysical Research, 106, 407, 2001.
Weimer, D. R., Improved ionospheric electrodynamic models and application to calculating Joule heating rates, Journal of Geophysical Research, 110, A05306, doi:10.1029/2004JA010884, 2005.
Weimer, D. R., Predicting Surface Geomagnetic Variations Using Ionospheric Electrodynamic Models, Journal of Geophysical Research, 110, A12307, doi:10.1029/ 2005JA011270, 2005.

Relevant links

CCMC Contact(s)

301-286-9571

Developer Contact(s)

603-672-6776