This $449,990 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) will fund collaborative research at the University of Michigan to investigate the dynamics of fast plasma flows within the Earth's nightside magnetosphere and their effects on the upper atmosphere. The research aims to deepen understanding of the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling processes using a combination of simulation models and multi-instrument observational data. Key research questions include analyzing particle velocity distributions associated with bursty bulk flows, mapping field-aligned current distributions, and assessing the impact of these flows on ionospheric density structures and airglow emissions. The project will also promote the professional development of two early-career researchers, including a postdoctoral fellow, under the mentorship of the principal investigator. No subawards are planned for this award, which has a period of performance from April 2024 to March 2027.
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