Articles | Volume 42, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-255-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-255-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
On the importance of middle-atmosphere observations on ionospheric dynamics using WACCM-X and SAMI3
Fabrizio Sassi
Naval Research Laboratory – Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA
Heliophysics Division, Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Angeline G. Burrell
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Naval Research Laboratory – Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA
Sarah E. McDonald
Naval Research Laboratory – Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA
Jennifer L. Tate
Computational Physics Inc., 8001 Braddock Rd, Suite 210, Springfield, VA 22151, USA
John P. McCormack
Naval Research Laboratory – Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA
Heliophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, 300 Hidden Figures Way SW, Washington, DC 20546, USA
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John P. McCormack, V. Lynn Harvey, Cora E. Randall, Nicholas Pedatella, Dai Koshin, Kaoru Sato, Lawrence Coy, Shingo Watanabe, Fabrizio Sassi, and Laura A. Holt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17577–17605, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17577-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17577-2021, 2021
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In order to have confidence in atmospheric predictions, it is important to know how well different numerical model simulations of the Earth’s atmosphere agree with one another. This work compares four different data assimilation models that extend to or beyond the mesosphere. Results shown here demonstrate that while the models are in close agreement below ~50 km, large differences arise at higher altitudes in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere that will need to be reconciled in the future.
David E. Siskind, V. Lynn Harvey, Fabrizio Sassi, John P. McCormack, Cora E. Randall, Mark E. Hervig, and Scott M. Bailey
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14059–14077, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14059-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14059-2021, 2021
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General circulation models have had a very difficult time simulating the descent of nitric oxide through the polar mesosphere to the stratosphere. Here, we present results suggesting that, with the proper specification of middle atmospheric meteorology, the simulation of this process can be greatly improved. Despite differences in the detailed geographic morphology of the model NO as compared with satellite data, we show that the overall abundance is likely in good agreement with the data.
David E. Siskind, Gerald E. Nedoluha, Fabrizio Sassi, Pingping Rong, Scott M. Bailey, Mark E. Hervig, and Cora E. Randall
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 7957–7967, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7957-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7957-2016, 2016
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The strong descent of wintertime mesospheric air into the stratosphere has been of great recent interest. Here, we show that because mesospheric air is depleted in methane, it implies that chlorine will be found more in its active form, chlorine monoxide. This is a new way for mesosphere/stratosphere coupling to affect ozone. Second, these effects seem to persist longer than previously thought. Studies of the summer upper stratosphere should consider the conditions from the previous winter.
John P. McCormack, V. Lynn Harvey, Cora E. Randall, Nicholas Pedatella, Dai Koshin, Kaoru Sato, Lawrence Coy, Shingo Watanabe, Fabrizio Sassi, and Laura A. Holt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17577–17605, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17577-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17577-2021, 2021
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In order to have confidence in atmospheric predictions, it is important to know how well different numerical model simulations of the Earth’s atmosphere agree with one another. This work compares four different data assimilation models that extend to or beyond the mesosphere. Results shown here demonstrate that while the models are in close agreement below ~50 km, large differences arise at higher altitudes in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere that will need to be reconciled in the future.
David E. Siskind, V. Lynn Harvey, Fabrizio Sassi, John P. McCormack, Cora E. Randall, Mark E. Hervig, and Scott M. Bailey
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14059–14077, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14059-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14059-2021, 2021
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General circulation models have had a very difficult time simulating the descent of nitric oxide through the polar mesosphere to the stratosphere. Here, we present results suggesting that, with the proper specification of middle atmospheric meteorology, the simulation of this process can be greatly improved. Despite differences in the detailed geographic morphology of the model NO as compared with satellite data, we show that the overall abundance is likely in good agreement with the data.
Angeline G. Burrell, Gareth Chisham, Stephen E. Milan, Liam Kilcommons, Yun-Ju Chen, Evan G. Thomas, and Brian Anderson
Ann. Geophys., 38, 481–490, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-481-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-481-2020, 2020
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The Earth's polar upper atmosphere changes along with the magnetic field, other parts of the atmosphere, and the Sun. When studying these changes, knowing the polar region that the data come from is vital, as different processes dominate the area where the aurora is and poleward of the aurora (the polar cap). The boundary between these areas is hard to find, so this study used a different boundary and figured out how they are related. Future studies can now find their polar region more easily.
David E. Siskind, Gerald E. Nedoluha, Fabrizio Sassi, Pingping Rong, Scott M. Bailey, Mark E. Hervig, and Cora E. Randall
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 7957–7967, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7957-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7957-2016, 2016
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The strong descent of wintertime mesospheric air into the stratosphere has been of great recent interest. Here, we show that because mesospheric air is depleted in methane, it implies that chlorine will be found more in its active form, chlorine monoxide. This is a new way for mesosphere/stratosphere coupling to affect ozone. Second, these effects seem to persist longer than previously thought. Studies of the summer upper stratosphere should consider the conditions from the previous winter.
Related subject area
Subject: Earth's ionosphere & aeronomy | Keywords: Ionosphere–atmosphere interactions
Calibrating estimates of ionospheric long-term change
Analysis of in situ measurements of electron, ion and neutral temperatures in the lower thermosphere–ionosphere
Investigation of PMSE layers during solar maximum and solar minimum
Effects of the terdiurnal tide on the sporadic E (Es) layer development at low latitudes over the Brazilian sector
Mid-latitude neutral wind responses to sub-auroral polarization streams
Arecibo measurements of D-region electron densities during sunset and sunrise: implications for atmospheric composition
Entangled dynamos and Joule heating in the Earth's ionosphere
Evidence of vertical coupling: meteorological storm Fabienne on 23 September 2018 and its related effects observed up to the ionosphere
Quasi-10 d wave modulation of an equatorial ionization anomaly during the Southern Hemisphere stratospheric warming of 2002
Quarterdiurnal signature in sporadic E occurrence rates and comparison with neutral wind shear
Christopher John Scott, Matthew N. Wild, Luke Anthony Barnard, Bingkun Yu, Tatsuhiro Yokoyama, Michael Lockwood, Cathryn Mitchel, John Coxon, and Andrew Kavanagh
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2599, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2599, 2023
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Long-term change in the ionosphere are expected due to increase in greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere. Empirical formulae are used to estimate height. Through comparison with independent data we show that there are seasonal and long-term biases introduced by the empirical model. We conclude that estimates of long-term changes in ionospheric height need to account for these biases.
Panagiotis Pirnaris and Theodoros Sarris
Ann. Geophys., 41, 339–354, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-339-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-339-2023, 2023
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The relation between electron, ion and neutral temperatures in the lower thermosphere–ionosphere (LTI) is key to understanding the energy balance and transfer between species. However, their simultaneous measurement is rare in the LTI. Based on data from the AE-C, AE-D, AE-E and DE-2 satellites of the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of events where neutrals are hotter than ions are identified and statistically analyzed. Potential mechanisms that could trigger these events are proposed.
Dorota Jozwicki, Puneet Sharma, Devin Huyghebaert, and Ingrid Mann
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-977, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-977, 2023
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We investigated the relationship between PMSE layers and the solar cycle. Our results indicate that PMSE altitude, echo power, and layer thickness are on average higher during solar maximum than solar minimum. Higher electron densities at ionospheric altitudes might be necessary to observe multi-layered PMSE. We observed that the thickness decreases as the number of multi-layers increase. We hypothesized that the thickness of PMSE layers may be related to the vertical wavelength of gravity waves
Pedro Alves Fontes, Marcio Tadeu de Assis Honorato Muella, Laysa Cristina Araújo Resende, Vânia Fátima Andrioli, Paulo Roberto Fagundes, Valdir Gil Pillat, Paulo Prado Batista, and Alexander Jose Carrasco
Ann. Geophys., 41, 209–224, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-209-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-209-2023, 2023
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In the terrestrial ionosphere, sporadic (metallic) layers are formed. The formation of these layers are related to the action of atmospheric waves. These waves, also named tides, are due to the absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere. We investigated the role of the tides with 8 h period in the formation of the sporadic layers. The study was conducted using ionosonde and meteor radar data, as well as computing simulations. The 8 h tides intensified the density of the sporadic layers.
Daniel D. Billett, Kathryn A. McWilliams, Robert B. Kerr, Jonathan J. Makela, Alex T. Chartier, J. Michael Ruohoniemi, Sudha Kapali, Mike A. Migliozzi, and Juanita Riccobono
Ann. Geophys., 40, 571–583, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-571-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-571-2022, 2022
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Sub-auroral polarisation streams (SAPSs) are very fast plasma flows that occur at mid-latitudes, which can affect the atmosphere. In this paper, we use four ground-based radars to obtain a wide coverage of SAPSs that occurred over the USA, along with interferometer cameras in Virginia and Massachusetts to measure winds. The winds are strongly affected but in different ways, implying that the balance forces on the atmosphere is strongly dependent on proximity to the disturbance.
Carsten Baumann, Antti Kero, Shikha Raizada, Markus Rapp, Michael P. Sulzer, Pekka T. Verronen, and Juha Vierinen
Ann. Geophys., 40, 519–530, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-519-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-519-2022, 2022
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The Arecibo radar was used to probe free electrons of the ionized atmosphere between 70 and 100 km altitude. This is also the altitude region were meteors evaporate and form secondary particulate matter, the so-called meteor smoke particles (MSPs). Free electrons attach to these MSPs when the sun is below the horizon and cause a drop in the number of free electrons, which are the subject of these measurements. We also identified a different number of free electrons during sunset and sunrise.
Stephan C. Buchert
Ann. Geophys., 38, 1019–1030, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1019-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1019-2020, 2020
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Winds in the Earth's upper atmosphere cause magnetic and electric variations both at the ground and in space all over the Earth. According to the model of entangled dynamos the true cause is wind differences between regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres that are connected by the Earth's dipole-like magnetic field. The power produced in the southern dynamo heats the northern upper atmosphere and vice versa. The dynamos exist owing to this entanglement, an analogy to quantum mechanics.
Petra Koucká Knížová, Kateřina Podolská, Kateřina Potužníková, Daniel Kouba, Zbyšek Mošna, Josef Boška, and Michal Kozubek
Ann. Geophys., 38, 73–93, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-73-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-73-2020, 2020
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Severe meteorological storm Fabienne passing above central Europe was observed. Significant variations of atmospheric and ionospheric parameters were detected. Above Europe, stratospheric temperature and wind significantly changed in coincidence with frontal transition. Within ionospheric parameters, we have detected significant wave-like activity shortly after the cold front crossed the observational point. During the storm event, we have observed strong horizontal plasma flow shears.
Xiaohua Mo and Donghe Zhang
Ann. Geophys., 38, 9–16, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-9-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-9-2020, 2020
Christoph Jacobi, Christina Arras, Christoph Geißler, and Friederike Lilienthal
Ann. Geophys., 37, 273–288, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-273-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-273-2019, 2019
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Sporadic E (Es) layers in the Earth's ionosphere are produced by ion convergence due to vertical wind shear in the presence of a horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field. We present analyses of the 6 h tidal signatures in ES occurrence rates derived from GPS radio observations. Times of maxima in ES agree well with those of negative wind shear obtained from radar observation. The global distribution of ES amplitudes agrees with wind shear amplitudes from numerical modeling.
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Editor-in-chief
This paper gives an outlook on what will happen to the predictability of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere in the case we no longer should have relevant measurements in the mesosphere. It shows how important global measurements in the mesosphere are for the predictability of the variability of the ionosphere and thus for our communication and navigation systems. This is particularly important because the satellites that currently provide us with observations of the mesosphere have all already far exceeded their originally planned lifetimes (e.g. SABER, MLS, ...).
This paper gives an outlook on what will happen to the predictability of the ionosphere and...
Short summary
This study shows how middle-atmospheric data (starting at 40 km) affect day-to-day ionospheric variability. We do this by using lower atmospheric measurements that include and exclude the middle atmosphere in a coupled ionosphere–thermosphere model. Comparing the two simulations reveals differences in two thermosphere–ionosphere coupling mechanisms. Additionally, comparison against observations showed that including the middle-atmospheric data improved the resulting ionosphere.
This study shows how middle-atmospheric data (starting at 40 km) affect day-to-day ionospheric...