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Yue Deng
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Project title: Assess the impact of non-hydrostatic processes on the response of the thermosphere/ionosphere system to magnetospheric forcing.The ionosphere and thermosphere are two overlapping regions of the upper atmosphere that are tightly coupled. The ionosphere represents the plasma and the thermosphere represents the neutral constituents in the upper atmosphere–and the coupling between them shows the strong plasma-neutrals interaction. Understanding of the ionosphere/thermosphere system under different magnetospheric conditions is important for a number of space research and space weather applications. For example, following a space weather disturbance, intense currents flowing from magnetosphere into the ionosphere/thermosphere dramatically increase the Joule heating and expansion of atmosphere, which strongly alters the orbit of satellites around the Earth. Meanwhile, ground induced currents (GICs) can cause serious problems to pipelines, transoceanic cables, and power lines. It is vital to understand the variability within this critical region of our atmosphere so that scientists can predict its effects on satellite tracking and power grids. During her five years Ph.D. study at the Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences department at the University of Michigan, Deng co-developed a new three-dimensional Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model (GITM). As a critical part of the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF), GITM is the first global non-hydrostatic model in the upper atmosphere and is flexible to extend to other planets and their moons, such as Mars and Titan. She subsequently conducted scientific research on the magnetosphere and ionosphere/thermosphere coupling using GITM and instrumental measurements. Lately, Deng broadened her postdoctoral research at both the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and CIRES by investigating the hydrostatic models, such as NCAR-TIEGCM and CTIP, which are well developed and highly recognized in the community. She is also working with the data assimilating model, Assimilative Mapping of Ionospheric Electrodynamics (AMIE), combined with measurements from ground-based instruments and satellite observations. Deng’s “exciting” work in space physics and numerical simulation built up her strength, interests, and passion for the research of the magnetosphere and ionosphere/thermosphere coupling. Office: DSRC, Rm. GC116 |
