Vertical Coupling From the Lower Atmosphere to the Ionosphere: Observations Inferred From Indian MST Radar, GPS Radiosonde, Ionosonde, Magnetometer, OLR (NOAA), and SABER/TIMED Instrument Over Gadanki

Abstract. Diurnal tidal components in horizontal winds measured by MST radar in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over a tropical station Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E) are presented for the autumn equinox, winter, vernal equinox and summer seasons. For this purpose radar data obtained over many diurnal cycles from September 1995 to August 1996 are used. The results obtained show that although the seasonal variation of the diurnal tidal amplitudes in zonal and meridional winds is not strong, vertical phase propagation characteristics show significant seasonal variation. An attempt is made to simulate the diurnal tidal amplitudes and phases in the lower atmosphere over Gadanki using classical tidal theory by incorporating diurnal heat sources, namely, solar radiation absorption by water vapour, planetary boundary layer (PBL) heat flux, latent heat release in deep convective clouds and short wave solar radiation absorption by clouds. A comparison of the simulated amplitudes and phases with the observed ones shows that agreement between the two is quite good for the equinox seasons, especially the vertical structure of the phases of the meridional wind components.Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (tropical meteorology; waves and tides)

Download Full-text

Satellite observations of middle atmosphere–thermosphere vertical coupling by gravity waves

Annales Geophysicae ◽

10.5194/angeo-36-425-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 425-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Quang Thai Trinh ◽

Manfred Ern ◽

Eelco Doornbos ◽

Peter Preusse ◽

Martin Riese

Keyword(s):

Ocean Circulation ◽

Gravity Waves ◽

Middle Atmosphere ◽

Density Fluctuations ◽

Lower Atmosphere ◽

Research Approach ◽

Vertical Coupling ◽

Broadband Emission ◽

Momentum Fluxes ◽

Positive Correlations

Abstract. Atmospheric gravity waves (GWs) are essential for the dynamics of the middle atmosphere. Recent studies have shown that these waves are also important for the thermosphere/ionosphere (T/I) system. Via vertical coupling, GWs can significantly influence the mean state of the T/I system. However, the penetration of GWs into the T/I system is not fully understood in modeling as well as observations. In the current study, we analyze the correlation between GW momentum fluxes observed in the middle atmosphere (30–90 km) and GW-induced perturbations in the T/I. In the middle atmosphere, GW momentum fluxes are derived from temperature observations of the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) satellite instrument. In the T/I, GW-induced perturbations are derived from neutral density measured by instruments on the Gravity field and Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) and CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) satellites. We find generally positive correlations between horizontal distributions at low altitudes (i.e., below 90 km) and horizontal distributions of GW-induced density fluctuations in the T/I (at 200 km and above). Two coupling mechanisms are likely responsible for these positive correlations: (1) fast GWs generated in the troposphere and lower stratosphere can propagate directly to the T/I and (2) primary GWs with their origins in the lower atmosphere dissipate while propagating upwards and generate secondary GWs, which then penetrate up to the T/I and maintain the spatial patterns of GW distributions in the lower atmosphere. The mountain-wave related hotspot over the Andes and Antarctic Peninsula is found clearly in observations of all instruments used in our analysis. Latitude–longitude variations in the summer midlatitudes are also found in observations of all instruments. These variations and strong positive correlations in the summer midlatitudes suggest that GWs with origins related to convection also propagate up to the T/I. Different processes which likely influence the vertical coupling are GW dissipation, possible generation of secondary GWs, and horizontal propagation of GWs. Limitations of the observations as well as of our research approach are discussed. Keywords. Ionosphere (ionosphere–atmosphere interactions)

Download Full-text

Study of Atmospheric Forcing and Responses (SAFAR) campaign: overview

Annales Geophysicae ◽

10.5194/angeo-28-89-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 89-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

A. Jayaraman ◽

M. Venkat Ratnam ◽

A. K. Patra ◽

T. Narayana Rao ◽

S. Sridharan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Atmosphere ◽

Research Programme ◽

Radiative Heating ◽

Lower Atmosphere ◽

Temperature Structure ◽

Atmospheric Forcing ◽

Vertical Coupling ◽

F Region ◽

Rayleigh Lidar ◽

Vertical Winds

Abstract. Study of Atmospheric Forcing and Responses (SAFAR) is a five year (2009–2014) research programme specifically to address the responses of the earth's atmosphere to both natural and anthropogenic forcings using a host of collocated instruments operational at the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E), India from a unified viewpoint of studying the vertical coupling between the forcings and responses from surface layer to the ionosphere. As a prelude to the main program a pilot campaign was conducted at Gadanki during May–November 2008 using collocated observations from the MST radar, Rayleigh lidar, GPS balloonsonde, and instruments measuring aerosol, radiation and precipitation, and supporting satellite data. We show the importance of the large radiative heating caused by absorption of solar radiation by soot particles in the lower atmosphere, the observed high vertical winds in the convective updrafts extending up to tropopause, and the difficulty in simulating the same with existing models, the upward traveling waves in the middle atmosphere coupling the lower atmosphere with the upper atmosphere, their manifestation in the mesospheric temperature structure and inversion layers, the mesopause height extending up to 100 km, and the electro-dynamical coupling between mesosphere and the ionosphere which causes irregularities in the ionospheric F-region. The purpose of this communication is not only to share the knowledge that we gained from the SAFAR pilot campaign, but also to inform the international atmospheric science community about the SAFAR program as well as to extend our invitation to join in our journey.

Download Full-text

Comparing the ionospheric response to the 2008/2009 and 2018/2019 SSW events

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-18642 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tarique Adnan Siddiqui ◽

Yosuke Yamazaki ◽

Claudia Stolle

Keyword(s):

Climate Model ◽

Lower Thermosphere ◽

Solar Flux ◽

Upper Atmosphere ◽

Lower Atmosphere ◽

Atmospheric Variability ◽

Vertical Coupling ◽

Lunar Tides ◽

Tidal Characteristics ◽

Coupling Mechanisms

<p>It is now well accepted that the ionosphere and thermosphere are sensitive to forcing from the lower atmosphere (troposphere-stratosphere) owing mainly to the progress that have been made in the last decade in understanding the vertical coupling mechanisms connecting these two distinct atmospheric regions. In this regard, the studies linking the upper atmosphere (mesosphere-lower thermosphere-ionosphere) variability due to sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events have been particularly important. The change of stratospheric circulation due to SSW events modulate the spectrum of vertically upward propagating atmospheric waves (gravity waves, tides, and planetary waves) resulting in numerous changes in the state of the upper atmosphere. Much of our understanding about the upper atmospheric variability associated due to the SSWs events have been gained by studying the 2008/2009 SSW event, which occurred under extremely low solar flux conditions. Recently another SSW event in 2018/2019 occurred under similar low solar flux conditions. In this study we simulate both these SSW events using Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere and ionosphere extension (WACCM-X) and present the findings by comparing the ionospheric and thermospheric response to both these SSW events. The tidal characteristics of the semidiurnal solar and lunar tides and the thermospheric composition for both these SSW events are compared and the causes of varying responses are investigated.</p>

Download Full-text