Evaluation of the Empirical Scaling Factor of Joule Heating Rates in TIE-GCM With EISCAT Measurements

Joule heating is one of the main energy inputs into the thermosphere-ionosphere system. Precise modeling of this process is essential for any space weather application. Existing thermosphere-ionosphere models tend to underestimate the actual Joule heating rate quite significantly. The Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General-Circulation-Model applies an empirical scaling factor of 1.5 for compensation. We calculate vertical profiles of Joule heating rates from approximately 2,220 hr of measurements with the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar and the corresponding model runs. We investigate model runs with the plasma convection driven by both the Heelis and the Weimer model. The required scaling of the Joule heating profiles is determined with respect to the Kp index, the Kan-Lee merging electric field EKL, and the magnetic local time. Though the default scaling factor of 1.5 appears to be adequate on average, we find that the required scaling varies strongly with all three parameters ranging from 0.46 to similar to 20 at geomagnetically disturbed and quiet times, respectively. Furthermore, the required scaling is significantly different in runs driven by the Heelis and Weimer model. Adjusting the scaling factor with respect to the Kp index, EKL, the magnetic local time, and the choice of convection model would reduce the difference between Joule heating rates calculated from measurement and model plasma parameters. The vast majority of the energy input to the Earth system originates from the sun. This includes the absorption of various types of radiation, for example, ultraviolet radiation in the ozone layer or visible light and infrared radiation at the surface. In the upper atmosphere above about 80 km altitude, the absorption of extreme ultraviolet radiation and soft X-rays plays a major role. However, other processes also contribute significantly to the heating of this region, for example, the energy dissipation in the form of electric currents flowing along electric fields, also known as Joule heating. Joule heating is highly variable and can be drastically enhanced especially during solar storms, which can have potentially disastrous effects on satellites. Accurate modeling, and therefore also prediction, of Joule heating is not possible at the moment since thermosphere-ionosphere models have to scale the Joule heating empirically to fit the actual values. We investigate how the required scaling changes under different geophysical conditions. The constant Joule heating scaling factor in TIE-GCM is inadequate to compensate for the underestimation under various geomagnetic conditions Joule heating rates calculated from 2,220 hr of EISCAT measurements are compared to TIE-GCM runs driven with the Heelis and Weimer convection models The required scaling factor varies significantly with the Kp index, the Kan-Lee merging electric field, and the magnetic local time