Comparisons of F-Region Temperature over Scandinavia between Scanning Doppler Imager Measurements versus MSIS Model Predictions

In February 2025, the University of Alaska Fairbanks completed installation of three observatories in Scandinavia, each equipped with a Scanning Doppler Imager (SDI). This instrument measures Doppler shifts of auroral spectra to derive thermospheric neutral winds and Doppler widths to derive temperatures. This poster presents a detailed comparison of those temperature measurements with MSIS model predictions over several months. The observatories’ high latitude locations enable nearly continuous data collection with only brief daily gaps during periods of daylight in the winter months. This temporal coverage is sufficient to observe diurnal variations and short-term responses to changes in solar and geomagnetic activity. Strong agreement between the MSIS model and measurements from the multiple nearby instruments on both short-term and long-term timescales was observed. This significantly enhances confidence in the validity of both the observations and the model. However, there remain identifiable periods of discrepancy. These periods offer insight into possible scenarios in which the model predictions require additional input to ensure accuracy.