Estimation of the ionosphere-thermosphere energy budget during geomagnetic storms with GITM, satellite observations and empirical models

Improving modeling of the ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) energy budget is important for correct representation of the IT system and physics-based space weather forecasting. We present a framework for estimation of the IT energy budget with the physics-based Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model (GITM), empirical models and observations. The approach is illustrated for the 16-19 March 2013 and 2015 geomagnetic storms. Solar wind data, F10.7, OVATION Prime model and the Weimer 2005 model are utilized to drive GITM. We focus on contributions to the energy budget from auroral heating, Joule heating, thermospheric nitric oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) cooling emissions. Empirical models of auroral hemispheric power based on the TIMED/GUVI measurements and of the Joule heating are used. The cooling emission powers and fluxes are derived from TIMED/SABER measurements.