Articles | Volume 43, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-511-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-43-511-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Regular paper
| 
16 Sep 2025
Regular paper |
| 16 Sep 2025
| 16 Sep 2025
Observations of traveling ionospheric disturbances driven by gravity waves from sources in the upper and lower atmosphere
Physics Department, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
David R. Themens
Physics Department, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Jaroslav Chum
Institute of Atmospheric Physics CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
Shibaji Chakraborty
Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab, Center for Space and Atmospheric Research, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
Robert G. Gillies
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
James M. Weygand
Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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A link between the solar wind and the occurrence of large tornado outbreaks is found. The solar wind coupling to the Earth’s magnetic field deposits energy into the upper atmosphere at high latitudes. We consider the role of aurorally generated atmospheric gravity waves in the release of instabilities contributing to development of synoptic-scale weather conditions favoring formation of supercells in a strong wind shear environment and high tornado occurrence.
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We have examined events during which the measured magnetic field on the ground changes very rapidly, causing a risk to technological conductor networks. According to our results, such events occur when strong electric currents in the ionosphere at 100 km altitude are abruptly modified by sudden compression or expansion of the magnetospheric magnetic field farther in space.
Paul Prikryl, Robert G. Gillies, David R. Themens, James M. Weygand, Evan G. Thomas, and Shibaji Chakraborty
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The solar wind interaction with Earth’s magnetic field deposits energy into the upper portion of the atmosphere at high latitudes. The coupling process that modulates the ionospheric convection and intensity of ionospheric currents leads to formation of densely ionized patches convecting across the polar cap. The ionospheric currents launch traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) propagating equatorward. The polar cap patches and TIDs are then observed by networks of radars and GPS receivers.
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Short summary
Traveling ionospheric disturbances are plasma density fluctuations usually driven by atmospheric gravity waves in the neutral atmosphere. The aim of this study is to attribute multi-instrument observations of traveling ionospheric disturbances to gravity waves generated in the upper atmosphere at high latitudes or gravity waves generated by tropospheric weather systems at midlatitudes.
Traveling ionospheric disturbances are plasma density fluctuations usually driven by atmospheric...
