LWS TR&T Strategic Capability:

Integrated Model of the Atmosphere-Ionosphere System

PI: Rolando Garcia/NCAR

Capability Description: Develop an integrated model of atmospheric dynamics, composition, chemistry, radiation, and plasma properties, from the Earth’s surface to the top of the thermosphere/ionosphere, driven by: inputs of solar spectral irradiance; natural and anthropogenic gases and aerosols; solar, magnetospheric, and galactic energetic particles; and magnetospheric electric fields and currents.

LWS Strategic Need: Many hypothesized solar influences on climate and on atmospheric ozone involve dynamical, chemical, radiative, and/or electrical coupling between the lower atmosphere and the middle/upper atmosphere. Conversely, day-to-day variability and long-term trends of the thermosphere and ionosphere are influenced by dynamical and composition changes coming from the lower atmosphere. In order to evaluate how coupling among the troposphere, middle atmosphere, and upper atmosphere modulate solar-terrestrial effects, state-of-the-art models that encompass the entire atmosphere will be an essential tool. Such models allow consolidation of knowledge, testing of hypotheses, clarification of poorly understood or overlooked processes, and prediction of as-yet unobserved phenomena. Additionally, models that encompass the entire atmosphere broaden the scope of observations that can be used for data assimilation: for example, even observations of ionospheric variability, when assimilated into an integrated atmosphere-ionosphere model, can constrain the uncertain state of the middle and lower atmosphere. The proposed capability should include a three-dimensional, time-dependent general circulation model of fully coupled atmospheric/ionospheric dynamics, energetics, chemistry, and plasma processes. The model must include provision for inputs of variable solar spectral radiation, magnetospheric energy inputs, and solar and galactic energetic particles.

Desirable Features:
• Interactive ozone chemistry;
• Realistic exchanges of mass, momentum, and energy at the Earth’s surface;
• Ability to simulate realistic atmospheric tides;
• Provision for interchangeable modules of different processes, for intercomparison of different algorithms and for model upgrades;
• Inclusion of aerosol physics and chemistry, including stratospheric and polar mesospheric cloud physics;
• Capability of coupling with magnetospheric/plasmaspheric models;
• Capability of coupling with models of physical and biological processes at the Earth’s surface;
• Inclusion of physics of the atmospheric electrical circuit;
• Capability for forward modeling of observable parameters of the atmosphere and ionosphere; and
• Adaptation for assimilation of lower- and upper-atmospheric data.