USU-GAIM Model Limitation

The current version of the USU-GAIM model provides the 3-D ionospheric plasma density distribution over the globe. As a consequence the resolution of the model is rather coarse (15 longitude, 4.66 latitude). The version of the model at the CCMC only assimilates GPS/TEC data between -60, +60 geographic latitude. The plasma density distribution at high latitudes is provided by the IFM and is currently only driven by the geophysical conditions. The current version of the model cannot describe small-scale dynamic structures, such as spread-F and plasma bubbles. The model results are more reliable near data sources.