A comparison of ionospheric model predictions with MITHRAS observations

MITHRAS is a coordinated multiradar program to study the interactions between the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere, as well as the phenomena that result from these interactions. The program is based on a data set acquired by the Chatanika, Millstone Hill, and Eiscat incoherent scatter radars. A large portion of the data is unique in that it was the only time when the radars, well separated in local and magnetic time, simultaneously probed the high latitude ionosphere. Our effect concerned model data comparisons. Specifically, we compared the predictions of our three-dimensional, time dependent model of the high latitude ionosphere with MITHRAS data sets. Of particular interest were the variations of the ionosphere with altitude, latitude, longitude, universal time, season, and magnetic activity. Model data comparisons enabled us to determine the adequacy of our current understanding of high latitude ionosphere dynamics as well as certain magnetosphere ionosphere atmosphere coupling processes. Keywords: Modelling; Ionosphere; Magnetosphere; Thermosphere; Incoherent scatter radar; Aurora; Electric Fields: Densities; Temperatures; Velocities.