An empirical model of the ionospheric electric potential

Abstract

We present an empirical model of the ionospheric electric potential based on output from the assimilative mapping of ionospheric electrodynamics technique (AMIE). The model is derived using a multivariable linear regression analysis technique to relate the potential at each grid point to the interplanetary magnetic field B y and B z components. AMIE output over a one week period was used to construct the model. The results of the model are very similar to other electric potential models; namely, the background pattern and the model response to B y and B z are typical. The unique aspect of this model is the use of the linear response to changes in IMF for the forward prediction of the potential pattern. We show an example of how the model can significantly improve predictions of the potential when it is coupled to a real-time specification model such as the real-time version of AMIE.