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Features of the GAIA model

The GAIA model is a simulation model capable of handling the entire region of the Earth’s atmosphere from the troposphere through the ionosphere, and formed by coupling the following sub-models

  • Atmospheric model


    Description:
    Atmospheric general circulation model handling the entire neutral atmospheric region of the Earth. Includes the range from meteorological processes in the troposphere to photochemical reactions in the thermosphere or interactions with the ionosphere.
    Coverage:
    Global; altitude of 0 to 600 km
    Resolution
    Horizontally T106 (1.125 deg) to T21 (5.6 deg); vertically 0.2H to 0.4H (H: Scale height)
    References
    Miyoshi and Fujiwara [2003]
    Fujiwara and Miyoshi [2008]

  • Ionospheric model


    Description:
    Plasma fluid model handling the Earth’s ionospheric region. Also includes the photochemical reactions of respective ions (O+, O2+, N2+, NO+).
    Coverage:
    Global; altitude of 100 to 3000 km
    Resolution:
    Horizontally (5 deg x 1 deg) to (1 deg x 1 deg); vertically 10 km or more
    References:
    Shinagawa and Ohyama [2006](2D version)
    Shinagawa [2009](3D version)

  • Electrodynamics model


    Description:
    Model handling the processes of ionospheric current and electric fields created by fluid motion in the thermosphere. Serves the role of coupling the neutral atmosphere and ionospheric plasma.
    Coverage:
    Global; altitude of 70 to 720 km
    Resolution:
    Variable according to atmospheric and ionospheric models
    References：
    Jin et al. [2008]
    Jin [2009]

Coupling Method　


The sub-models are combined through the "coupler module."
The coupler module exchanges physical variables among the sub-models, converts coordinates, controls common parameters and processes, and handles inputs/outputs. (Reference:Jin et al. [2011])