A real-time model-observation comparison of F2 peak electron densities during the Upper Atmospheric Research Collaboratory campaign of October 1997

This real-time modeling capability is the first published description of the running of a comprehensive model of the coupled thermosphere-ionosphere system that successfully performs real-time nowcasts and short-term forecasts of the upper atmosphere.

These nowcasts and forecasts use observed real-time geophysical parameters as model input. Real-time modeling also provides an opportunity to evaluate rigorously the accuracy of the model for space weather purposes by comparing model outputs with observations. Digisonde-derived F-2 peak electron densities from three sites (Millstone Hill, Tromso, and Sondre Stromfjord) were compared with the corresponding TING model outputs during the October 14-29, 1997, UARC campaign.