High-latitude phenomenological model of auroral precipitation and ionospheric effects

A phenomenological approach was taken to model the behavior of the high latitude ionosphere in support of data generated by spectrophotometric images taken by satellites. The model, based on the collected particle precipitation data, incorporates expressions for the differential energy distribution and spatial extent and temporal variations of auroral electron precipitation in the 0.35 keV- 1 MeV range during substorm events. The applicability of the model is demonstrated by the results of a simulation of the expected responses of a spaceborne X-ray imager such as the one planned for the POLAR spacecraft ionospheric imaging experiment. 28 references