Knowing charged particle densities high above Earth is key for forecasting space weather effects on satellites and communications, but they are difficult to estimate at high latitudes because of auroras. We built an artificial intelligence model for northern Norway using radar observations, magnetic field measurements, geophysical indices and solar activity. It produces more accurate estimates than existing methods, even during auroral events, and can be adapted to other regions.

The phenomena of meteors occurs at altitudes of 60–120 km and can be used to measure the neutral atmosphere. We use a large high power radar system in Norway (MAARSY) to determine changes to the atmospheric density between the years of 2016–2023 at altitudes of 85–115 km. The same day-of-year is compared, minimizing changes to the measurements due to factors other than the atmosphere. This presents a novel method by which to obtain atmospheric neutral density variations.

The rapid changes in ion composition during auroral are dynamically modeled by integrating the coupled continuity equations for 15 ionospheric species. The effect of the ionospheric variation on the inversion of ISR electron density profiles to differential energy spectra of precipitating electrons is studied. A systematic overestimation at high electron energies can be removed using a dynamic model. Comparisons are made with static and steady-state ionospheric models.

Auroral precipitation refers to energetic particles that come down into the upper part of our atmosphere, the ionosphere. There, they collide with atoms and molecules and transfer some of their energy, causing aurora. The most rapid time-variation of this energy deposition and its consequences on the ionosphere are not fully understood. We show here that one can use a new model to study auroral precipitation on sub-second timescales and advance our understanding about small-scale dynamic aurora.

The EISCAT_3D radar is a new ionospheric radar under construction in the Fennoscandia region. The radar will make measurements of plasma characteristics at altitudes above approximately 60 km. The capability of the system to make these measurements at spatial scales of less than 100 m using multiple digitised signals from each of the radar antenna panels is highlighted. There are many ionospheric small-scale processes that will be further resolved using the techniques discussed here.