[1] The Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) provides a high-performance flexible framework for physics-based space weather simulations, as well as for various space physics applications. The SWMF integrates numerical models of the Solar Corona, Eruptive Event Generator, Inner Heliosphere, Solar Energetic Particles, Global Magnetosphere, Inner Magnetosphere, Radiation Belt, Ionosphere Electrodynamics, and Upper Atmosphere into a high-performance coupled model. The components can be represented with alternative physics models, and any physically meaningful subset of the components can be used. The components are coupled to the control module via standardized interfaces, and an efficient parallel coupling toolkit is used for the pairwise coupling of the components. The execution and parallel layout of the components is controlled by the SWMF. Both sequential and concurrent execution models are supported. The SWMF enables simulations that were not possible with the individual physics models. Using reasonably high spatial and temporal resolutions in all of the coupled components, the SWMF runs significantly faster than real time on massively parallel supercomputers. This paper presents the design and implementation of the SWMF and some demonstrative tests. Future papers will describe validation (comparison of model results with measurements) and applications to challenging space weather events. The SWMF is publicly available to the scientific community for doing geophysical research. We also intend to expand the SWMF in collaboration with other model developers.

Abstract. We examine 65 ionospheric convection changes associated with changes in the Y and Z components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We measure the IMF reorientations (for all but six of the events) at the Wind satellite. For 22 of the events the IMF reorientation is clearly observed by both Wind and IMP 8. Various methods are used to estimate the propagation time of the IMF between the two satellites. We find that using the magnetic field before the IMF orientation change gives the smallest error in the expected propagation time. The IMF is then propagated to the magnetopause. The communication time between when the IMF encounters the magnetopause and the start of the convection change is estimated to be 8.4 (•8.2) min. The resulting change in the ionospheric potential is examined by subtracting a base potential pattern from the changing potential patterns. From these residual patterns, a number of conclusions are made: (1) the location of the change in convection is stationary, implying that the change in convection is broadcast from the cusp region to the rest of the ionosphere in a matter of seconds and that the elctric field mapped down the cusp controls the entire dayside ionospheric convection pattern; (2) the shape of the change in the ionospheric convection is dependent on the IMF component that changes, which is indicative of the change in the merging rate on the dayside magnetopause; (3) 62% of the events change linearly form one state to another, while 11% of the events change asymptotically; (4) the change in the ionospheric potential is linearly related to the magnitude of the IMF orientation, with Bz changes having a larger proportionality constant than B• changes; (5) the ionospheric convection takes, on average, 13 min to completely reconfigure; and (6) some of the ionospheric convection changes occur on a timescale shorter than that of the corresponding IMF reorientation, possibly as a result of thresholding in the dayside merging region.

The dayside zone of soft precipitation can be divided into four distinct types of plasma regimes, each corresponding to the respective magnetospheric source region: the cusp, the mantle, the low‐latitude boundary layer (LLBL), and the dayside extension of the BPS. Based on a detailed spectral study, including comparisons with nonsimultaneous ISEE 1 satellite LLBL data, we identify regions of LLBL‐type plasma in the DMSP data set and compare these plasma boundaries with convection reversal boundaries (CRBs) as determined by either Sondrestrom or the drift meter instrument on board the DMSP F9 spacecraft. The nine cases considered are all in the prenoon local time sector. We find that in eight of the nine cases the CRB occurs within the LLBL as expected, generally near to, but not coincident with, the equatorward edge of the LLBL‐type plasma. In our sample set, chosen for cases with latitudinally wide, easily identifiable LLBL signatures, the average latitudinal width was 1.85° magnetic latitude. The CRB, defined as the onset of steady antisunward convection, occurred about 30% of this width beyond the equatorward onset of LLBL‐type particles. The most equatorward portion of the region with LLBL‐type plasma usually had near‐zero or erratic convection and may correspond to the “stagnation region” reported from ISEE observations. The potential drop observed across the low‐altitude LLBL is roughly estimated to be typically ∼5 keV. A summary is given on how the various high‐altitude sources can be identified when plasma regions are observed at low altitude in the dayside auroral oval.

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Analysis of 20‐second resolution magnetometer data from an array of temporary stations operated around Søndre Strømfjord, Greenland during the summer of 1986 shows the signatures of localized ionospheric traveling convection vortices. An example of an isolated event of this kind observed near 08 local time is presented in detail. This event consists of a twin vortex pattern of convection consistent with the presence of two field‐aligned current filaments separated by about 600 km in the east‐west direction. This system of currents is observed to move westward (tailward) past the array of stations at about 4 km/sec. The event is associated with relative quiet time ionospheric convection and occurs during an interval of northward IMF. It is, however, associated with a large fluctuation in both the Z and Y components of the IMF and with a large sudden decrease in the solar wind number density. The propagation of the system is inconsistent with existing models of FTE current systems, but nevertheless appears to be related to a readjustment of the magnetopause boundary to a sudden change in the solar wind dynamic pressure and/or to a change in reconnection brought about by a sudden reorientation of the IMF.