Scott L. England

Control of equatorial ionospheric morphology by atmospheric tides

[1] A newly discovered 1000-km scale longitudinal variation in ionospheric densities is an unexpected and heretofore unexplained phenomenon. Here we show that ionospheric densities vary with the strength of nonmigrating, diurnal atmospheric tides that are, in turn, driven mainly by weather in the tropics. A strong connection between tropospheric and ionospheric conditions is unexpected, as these upward propagating tides are damped far below the peak in ionospheric density. The observations can be explained by consideration of the dynamo interaction of the tides with the lower ionosphere (E-layer) in daytime. The influence of persistent tropical rainstorms is therefore an important new consideration for space weather. Citation: Immel, T. J., E. Sagawa, S. L. England, S. B. Henderson, M. E. Hagan, S. B. Mende, H. U. Frey, C. M. Swenson, and L. J. Paxton (2006), Control of equatorial ionospheric morphology by atmospheric tides, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L15108, doi:10.1029/2006GL026161. [2] The ionosphere is the region of highest plasma density in Earth’s space environment. It is a dynamic environment supporting a host of plasma instability processes, with important implications for global communications and geo-location applications. Produced by the ionization of the neutral atmosphere by solar x-ray and UV radiation, the uppermost ionospheric layer has the highest plasma density with a peak around 350–400 km altitude and primarily consists of O + ions. This is called the F-layer and it is considered to be a collisionless environment such that the charged particles interact only weakly with the neutral atmosphere, lingering long after sunset. The E-layer is composed of molecular ions and is located between 100–150 km where collisions between ions and neutrals are much more frequent, with the result that the layer recombines and is reduced in density a hundredfold soon after sunset [Rees ,1 989;Heelis, 2004]. The respective altitude regimes of these two layers are commonly called the E- and F-regions. [3] The ionosphere glows as O + ions recombine to an excited state of atomic oxygen (O I) at a rate proportional to

Effect of atmospheric tides on the morphology of the quiet time, postsunset equatorial ionospheric anomaly

longitudinal wave number four pattern in the magnetic latitude and concentration of the F region peak ion density when measured at a fixed local time. In a new comparison of two data sets with observations made by the OGO 4 satellite, this pattern is seen to be persistent over many days around equinox during magnetically quiet conditions close to solar maximum but can be dominated by other processes such as cross-equator winds during other periods. It is found that the longitudinal variability is created by a processes occurring in the dayside ionosphere. A longitudinal modulation of the dayside equatorial fountainisthemostlikelydrivingmechanism.ThroughcomparisonwithGWSM-02model,it isshownthatthepredictedmodulationofthedaysidethermosphericwindsandtemperaturesat E region altitudes created by non-migrating diurnal tides can explain the modulation in the dayside equatorial fountain. This result highlights the importance of understanding the temporal variability of tropospheric weather systems on our understanding and possible predictability of the development of the F region ionosphere. It may also provide a possible further means of testing our understanding of atmospheric tides on a global scale.

MAVEN observations of the response of Mars to an interplanetary coronal mass ejection

Coupling between the lower and upper atmosphere, combined with loss of gas from the upper atmosphere to space, likely contributed to the thin, cold, dry atmosphere of modern Mars. To help understand ongoing ion loss to space, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft made comprehensive measurements of the Mars upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the Sun and solar wind during an interplanetary coronal mass ejection impact in March 2015. Responses include changes in the bow shock and magnetosheath, formation of widespread diffuse aurora, and enhancement of pick-up ions. Observations and models both show an enhancement in escape rate of ions to space during the event. Ion loss during solar events early in Mars history may have been a major contributor to the long-term evolution of the Mars atmosphere.

Early MAVEN Deep Dip campaign reveals thermosphere and ionosphere variability

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission, during the second of its Deep Dip campaigns, made comprehensive measurements of martian thermosphere and ionosphere composition, structure, and variability at altitudes down to ~130 kilometers in the subsolar region. This altitude range contains the diffusively separated upper atmosphere just above the well-mixed atmosphere, the layer of peak extreme ultraviolet heating and primary reservoir for atmospheric escape. In situ measurements of the upper atmosphere reveal previously unmeasured populations of neutral and charged particles, the homopause altitude at approximately 130 kilometers, and an unexpected level of variability both on an orbit-to-orbit basis and within individual orbits. These observations help constrain volatile escape processes controlled by thermosphere and ionosphere structure and variability.

The effect of non-migrating tides on the morphology of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly: seasonal variability

Recent observations of the low-latitude F-region ionosphere at times near equinox have shown that it varies with a predominant zonal wavenumber-four pattern in a fixed local-time frame. It has been shown that this pattern corresponds well to the non-migrating diurnal eastward wavenumber-three atmospheric tide (DE3) at E-region altitudes simulated by the Global Scale Wave Model (GSWM). Here we present details of the morphology of the F-region ionosphere from TIMED GUVI with simultaneous observations of the non-migrating diurnal tides at E-region altitudes from TIMED SABER. For the case of equinox (March 2002), the correspondence of the SABER and GUVI observations confirms the relationship previously established using the GSWM simulations. There is also a wavenumber-one signature that is present which may be related to the semi-diurnal westward wavenumber-three, possibly in conjunction with changes in the magnetic field with longitude. During July 2002, when the amplitude of the DE3 maximizes, the amplitude of the wavenumber-four pattern in the F-region ionosphere intensifies. There is also evidence of a strong wavenumber-three pattern in the F-region ionosphere, which can be attributed to the strong diurnal eastward wavenumber-two tide during this period. During January 2003, the amplitude of all non-migrating components observed by SABER are either small or asymmetric and the ionosphere does not display either a wavenumber-three or -four pattern. During both solstice periods, a strong wavenumber-one is seen that is attributed to the offset of the subsolar point and the geomagnetic equator that maximizes at solstice, possibly in conjunction with other geomagnetic effects. During all seasons, significant hemispheric asymmetries in the airglow wavenumber spectra are seen. The combined GUVI and SABER observations presented here demonstrate that the large-scale periodic longitudinal structure of the F-region ionosphere responds significantly to changes in the forcing by non-migrating diurnal tides at E-region altitudes.

Simulated variability of the high‐latitude thermosphere induced by small‐scale gravity waves during a sudden stratospheric warming

We present the results of the first investigation of the influence of small-scale gravity waves (GWs) originating in the lower atmosphere on the variability of the high-latitude thermosphere during a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW). We use a general circulation model that incorporates the spectral GW parameterization of Yigit et al. (2008). During the warming, the GW penetration into the thermosphere and resulting momentum deposition rates increase by up to a factor of 3–6 in the high-latitude thermosphere. The associated temporal variability of GW dynamical effects at ~250 km are enhanced by up to a factor of ~10, exhibiting complex geographical variations. The peak magnitude of the GW drag temporal variability locally exceeds the mean GW drag by more than a factor of 2. The small-scale thermospheric wind variability is larger when GW propagation into the thermosphere is allowed compared to the case when thermospheric GW effects are absent. These results suggest that GW-induced variations during SSWs constitute a significant source of high-latitude thermospheric variability.

Upward propagating tidal effects across the E- and F-regions of the ionosphere

Recent far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations of Earth have shown the remarkable spatial correspondence between the amplitude of non-migrating atmospheric tides originating in the troposphere and the density and morphology of the nighttime equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA). This is likely a result of the modulation of the E-region dynamo electric field in daytime by the tidal winds. FUV observations around the time of the vernal equinox of 2002 show that the signature of tidal influence, the wave-4 periodicity in the separation and density of the two EIA bands, itself exhibits significant temporal variability. Here, we seek to understand this variability, and whether (or not) it is linked to variations in the strength of the upward-propagating tides. This study relies on tidal measurements provided by the global observations from the TIMED-SABER instrument that measures the temperature variations in the MLT associated with the upward-propagating tides. TIMED-GUVI provides F-region density measurements concurrent to the MLT temperature retrievals. It is found that the atmospheric and ionospheric zonal wave-4 signatures very nearly covary over a 30-day period, strongly supporting the theory that the influence of the the diurnal eastward 3 (DE3) tide originating in the troposphere extends to the F-layer of the ionosphere. Additionally, a 6-day periodicity in the power of the ionospheric wave-4 signature is found that may originate with the tide’s interaction with longer period planetary waves.

Thermospheric composition variations due to nonmigrating tides and their effect on ionosphere

[1] The TIMED/GUVI thermospheric composition (O/N 2 ratio) over 2009 reveals clear wave-3 (summer season) and wave-4 (Fall season) longitudinal dependence. The wave peak to valley varies from 7 to 11% of the background O/N 2 . The low Kp (yearly mean of 0.9) and low solar EUV flux indicates that the wave features were not caused by geomagnetic activity or solar EUV variation. A more likely explanation is nonmigrating diurnal eastward propagating DE2 and DE3 tides. Model calculations indicate that a 10% variation in O/N 2 makes 1/3 contribution to the nightside equatorial 135.6 nm intensities compared to the variation due to the E-region dynamo electric field. This study confirms that nonmigrating tides can penetrate toward the upper thermosphere, both O/N 2 and the E-region dynamo should be considered in analyzing ionospheric density variations due to nonmigrating tides. Comparison with MSIS results indicates that the nonmigrating tides have stronger effect on O/N 2 than the migrating tides.

Nonmigrating tides in the Martian atmosphere as observed by MAVEN IUVS

Using the Mars Atmospheric and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN) Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS), we found periodic longitudinal variations in CO2 density in the Martian atmosphere. The variations exhibit significant structure with longitudinal wave numbers 1, 2, and 3 in an effectively constant local solar time frame, and we attribute this structure to nonmigrating tides. The wave-2 component is dominated by the diurnal eastward moving DE1 tide at the equator and the semidiurnal stationary S0 tide at the midlatitudes. Wave-3 is dominated by the diurnal eastward moving DE2 tide, with possibly the semidiurnal eastward moving SE1 tide causing an amplitude increase at the midlatitudes. Structure in the wave-1 component can be explained by the semidiurnal westward moving SW1 tide.

Simultaneous observations of atmospheric tides from combined in situ and remote observations at Mars from the MAVEN spacecraft

We report the observations of longitudinal variations in the Martian thermosphere associated with nonmigrating tides. Using the Neutral Gas Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) and the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) on NASAs Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN Mission (MAVEN) spacecraft, this study presents the first combined analysis of in situ and remote observations of atmospheric tides at Mars for overlapping volumes, local times, and overlapping date ranges. From the IUVS observations, we determine the altitude and latitudinal variation of the amplitude of the nonmigrating tidal signatures, which is combined with the NGIMS, providing information on the compositional impact of these waves. Both the observations of airglow from IUVS and the CO2 density observations from NGIMS reveal a strong wave number 2 signature in a fixed local time frame. The IUVS observations reveal a strong latitudinal dependence in the amplitude of the wave number 2 signature. Combining this with the accurate CO2 density observations from NGIMS, this would suggest that the CO2 density variation is as high as 27% at 0–10° latitude. The IUVS observations reveal little altitudinal dependence in the amplitude of the wave number 2 signature, varying by only 20% from 160 to 200 km. Observations of five different species with NGIMS show that the amplitude of the wave number 2 signature varies in proportion to the inverse of the species scale height, giving rise to variation in composition as a function of longitude. The analysis and discussion here provide a roadmap for further analysis as additional coincident data from these two instruments become available.