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Characterization of N+ Abundances in the Terrestrial Polar Wind using the Multiscale Atmosphere-Geospace Environment
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  • Robert M. Albarran,
  • Roger Varney,
  • Kevin H Pham,
  • Dong Lin
Robert M. Albarran
University of California, Los Angeles

Corresponding Author:albarran1@atmos.ucla.edu

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Roger Varney
SRI International
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Kevin H Pham
National Center for Atmospheric Research
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Dong Lin
National Center for Atmospheric Research
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Abstract

The High-latitude Ionosphere Dynamics for Research Applications (HIDRA) model is part of the Multiscale Atmosphere-Geospace Environment (MAGE) model under development by the Center for Geospace Storms (CGS) NASA DRIVE Science Center. This study employs HIDRA to simulate upflows of H+, He+, O+, and N+ ions, with a particular focus on the relative N+ concentrations, production and loss mechanisms, and thermal upflow drivers as functions of season, solar activity, and magnetospheric convection. The simulation results demonstrate that N+ densities typically exceed He+ densities, N+ densities are typically ~10% O+ densities, and N+ concentrations at quiet-time are approximately 50-100% of N+ concentrations during storm-time. Furthermore, the N+ and O+ upflow fluxes show similar trends with variations in magnetospheric driving. The inclusion of ion-neutral chemical reactions involving metastable atoms is shown to have significant effects on N+ production rates. With this metastable chemistry included, the simulated ion density profiles compare favorably with satellite measurements from Atmosphere Explorer C (AE-C) and Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 6 (OGO-6).