Optimal interpolation analysis of high-latitude ionospheric Hall and Pedersen conductivities: Application to assimilative ionospheric electrodynamics reconstruction

The technique combines particle precipitation-based calculations of ionospheric conductances and their errors with a background model and its error covariance (modeled with empirical orthogonal functions) to infer complete distributions of the high-latitude ionospheric conductances.

We demonstrate this technique for the 26 November through 2 December 2011 period and analyze a moderate geomagnetic storm event on 30 November 2011. Quantitatively and qualitatively, this new technique provides better ionospheric conductance specification than past statistical models, especially during heightened geomagnetic activity. We provide initial evidence that auroral images from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager instrument can be used to further improve the OI conductance maps.