| Session Details | |
| Section | ST - Solar & Terrestrial Sciences |
| Session Title | Variability in the Ionosphere and Thermosphere |
| Main Convener | Dr. Yongliang Zhang (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Beichen Zhang (Polar Research Institute of China, China) Dr. Minoru Kubota (NICT, Japan) |
| Session Description | The ionosphere and thermosphere (IT) change continuously due to energy and momentum inputs from the solar radiation, solar wind, magnetosphere and lower atmosphere. The thermosphere and ionosphere are also strongly coupled. Variations in the ionosphere and thermosphere cover a wide range of time and spatial scales which are associated with difference processes. Over the past years, significant advance has been achieved for a better understanding of the IT variations, such as their solar cycle dependence (especially during the current prolonged solar minimum), long term trend, response to periodic changes in solar wind, effect of tidal forcing, rapid global and local response to intense geomagnetic storms and other natural events (such as earthquake) . The condition of IT system also has feedback effect on the magnetosphere. The improved understanding of the IT variations significantly benefits the space weather nowcast and forecast. We welcome papers involving studies of the ionosphere and thermosphere variations based on data analysis, theoretical work, simulation, assimilation and empirical modeling. We also welome papers proposing new obsevations and/or campaigns to address specific issues in IT variations. |