scholarly journals Simulated seasonal impact on middle atmospheric ozone from high-energy electron precipitation related to pulsating aurorae

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 883-897
Author(s):  
Pekka T. Verronen ◽  
Antti Kero ◽  
Noora Partamies ◽  
Monika E. Szeląg ◽  
Shin-Ichiro Oyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Energetic Electron ◽  
Solar Energetic Particle ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Electron ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
Research Station ◽  
High Energy Electron

Abstract. Recent simulation studies have provided evidence that a pulsating aurora (PsA) associated with high-energy electron precipitation is having a clear local impact on ozone chemistry in the polar middle mesosphere. However, it is not clear if the PsA is frequent enough to cause longer-term effects of measurable magnitude. There is also an open question of the relative contribution of PsA-related energetic electron precipitation (PsA EEP) to the total atmospheric forcing by solar energetic particle precipitation (EPP). Here we investigate the PsA-EEP impact on stratospheric and mesospheric odd hydrogen, odd nitrogen, and ozone concentrations. We make use of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model and recent understanding on PsA frequency, latitudinal and magnetic local time extent, and energy-flux spectra. Analysing an 18-month time period covering all seasons, we particularly look at PsA-EEP impacts at two polar observation stations located at opposite hemispheres: Tromsø in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and Halley Research Station in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). We find that PsA EEP can have a measurable impact on ozone concentration above 30 km altitude, with ozone depletion by up to 8 % seen in winter periods due to PsA-EEP-driven NOx enhancement. We also find that direct mesospheric NOx production by high-energy electrons (E> 100 keV) accounts for about half of the PsA-EEP-driven upper stratospheric ozone depletion. A larger PsA-EEP impact is seen in the SH where the background dynamical variability is weaker than in the NH. Clearly indicated from our results, consideration of polar vortex dynamics is required to understand PsA-EEP impacts seen at ground observation stations, especially in the NH. We conclude that PsA-EEP has the potential to make an important contribution to the total EPP forcing; thus, it should be considered in atmospheric and climate simulations.

Modeling study on the polar middle atmospheric responses to medium energy electron (MEE) precipitation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Hee Lee ◽  
In-Sun Song ◽  
Geonhwa Jee
Keyword(s):  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Electron ◽  
Chemical Changes ◽  
Chemical Effects ◽  
Energetic Particle Precipitation ◽  
Modeling Study

<p>Energetic particle precipitation (EPP) is an important source of chemical changes in the polar middle atmosphere during winter. Recently, it has been suggested from modeling study that EPP-induced chemical changes can cause dynamic changes of the atmosphere. In this study we investigate the atmospheric responses to medium-to high energy electron (MEE) precipitations during 2005-2013 by using Specific Dynamics Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (SD-WACCM). Results show that MEE precipitations significantly increase the amount of NO<sub>x</sub> and HO<sub>x</sub>, resulting in mesospheric and stratospheric ozone depletions during polar winter. The ozone depletion due to MEE precipitation induces warming in the polar lower mesosphere. Large ozone loss in the polar middle atmosphere leads to clear dynamic impacts, which causes warming by 3-11 K temperature increase and weakening of the zonal wind in the lower mesosphere. Our study show that the MEE precipitation induces not only the chemical effects such as ozone depletion but also clear dynamic effects in the polar middle atmosphere.</p>

scholarly journals Exceptional middle latitude electron precipitation detected by balloon observations: implications for atmospheric composition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Mironova ◽  
Miriam Sinnhuber ◽  
Galina Bazilevskaya ◽  
Mark Clilverd ◽  
Bernd Funke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energetic Particle ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Electron ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
High Energy Electron ◽  
Particle Precipitation ◽  
Energetic Particle Precipitation

Abstract. Energetic particle precipitation leads to ionization in the Earth's atmosphere, initiating the formation of active chemical species which destroy ozone and have the potential to impact atmospheric composition and dynamics down to the troposphere. We report on one exceptionally strong high-energy electron precipitation event detected by balloon measurements in middle latitudes on 14 December 2009 with ionization rates locally comparable to strong solar proton events. This electron precipitation was likely caused by wave-particle interactions in the slot region between the inner and outer radiation belts, connected with still not well understood natural phenomena in the magnetosphere. Satellite observations of odd nitrogen and nitric acid are consistent with wide-spread electron precipitation into magnetic midlatitudes. Simulations with a 3D chemistry-climate model indicate almost complete destruction of ozone in the upper mesosphere over the region where high-energy electron precipitation occurred. Such an extraordinary type of energetic particle precipitation can have major implications for the atmosphere, and their frequency and strength should be carefully studied.

scholarly journals Pc5 modulation of high energy electron precipitation: particle interaction regions and scattering efficiency

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1533-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Spanswick ◽  
E. Donovan ◽  
G. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Field Line ◽  
Electron Flux ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Electron ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
High Energy Electron ◽  
Magnetic Pulsation ◽  
Field Line Resonances ◽  
Morning Sector

Abstract. Using the NORSTAR riometer and CANOPUS magnetometer arrays we have investigated the modulation of high energy electron precipitation by ULF waves in the Pc5 frequency band. We conducted two separate studies of Pc5 activity in the riometers. The first is an independent survey of three riometer stations in the Churchill line (one at each sub-auroral, auroral, and typical polar cap boundary latitudes) in which we identified all riometer Pc5-band pulsations over 11 years. All had a corresponding magnetometer pulsation implying that a magnetic pulsation, is a necessary condition for a riometer pulsation (in the Pc5 Band). We find seasonal and latitude dependencies in the occurrence of riometer pulsations. By a factor of two, there are more riometer pulsations occurring in the fall-winter than the spring-summer. At higher latitudes there is a tendency towards noon pulsations during the spring-summer, suggesting that the criteria for riometer pulsations is affected by the dipole tilt. Our second study was based on the previous magnetometer study of Baker et al. (2003). Using the database of Pc5 activity from that study we were able to select the riometer Pc5 pulsations which adhere to the strict Pc5 definition in the magnetometer. We find that roughly 95% of the riometer pulsations occurred in the morning sector compared to 70% in the magnetometer. Given a magnetometer pulsation at Gillam in the morning sector, there is a 70% chance of there being a corresponding riometer pulsation. The morning sector probabilities at Rankin (geomagnetic (PACE) latitude 74°) and Pinawa (61°) are 3% and 5%, respectively. These statistics suggest there is a localized region in the pre-noon magnetosphere where Pc5 band ULF activity can modulate high energy electron precipitation. We also find that riometer pulsations display a Kp selection towards mid (i.e. 3–4) activity levels which mimics the product of the Kp dependence of high-energy electron fluxes on the dawn side (from CRRES) and all magnetic Pc5 activity. A superposed epoch analysis revealed that the elevated electron flux needed to produce a riometer pulsation is most likely provided by substorm injections on the nightside. We also find that the amplitude of modulated precipitation correlates well with the product of the background absorption and the magnetic pulsation amplitude, again leading to the idea that a riometer pulsation needs both favorable magnetospheric electron flux conditions and large enough magnetic Pc5 wave activity. We further separate our pulsations into field line resonances (FLRs), and non-field line resonances (non-FLRs), as identified in the Baker et al. (2003) survey. We find that FLRs are more efficient at modulating particle precipitation, and non-FLRs display an amplitude cutoff below which they do not interact with the high energy electron population. We conclude that the high energy electron precipitation associated with Pc5 pulsations is caused by pitch angle scattering (diffusion) rather than parallel acceleration. We suggest two future studies that are natural extensions of this one. Keywords. Energetic Particles/Precipitating; Wave-Particle Interactions; Auroral Phenomena

Mesospheric ozone destruction by high-energy electron precipitation associated with pulsating aurora

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (19) ◽  
pp. 11,852-11,861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esa Turunen ◽  
Antti Kero ◽  
Pekka T. Verronen ◽  
Yoshizumi Miyoshi ◽  
Shin-Ichiro Oyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Electron ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
High Energy Electron ◽  
Ozone Destruction ◽  
Mesospheric Ozone

scholarly journals Reactive nitrogen (NO<sub><i>y</i></sub>) and ozone responses to energetic electron precipitation during Southern Hemisphere winter

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (14) ◽  
pp. 9485-9494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavle Arsenovic ◽  
Alessandro Damiani ◽  
Eugene Rozanov ◽  
Bernd Funke ◽  
Andrea Stenke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Energetic Electron ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Solar Proton ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen ◽  
High Electron

Abstract. Energetic particle precipitation (EPP) affects the chemistry of the polar middle atmosphere by producing reactive nitrogen (NOy) and hydrogen (HOx) species, which then catalytically destroy ozone. Recently, there have been major advances in constraining these particle impacts through a parametrization of NOy based on high-quality observations. Here we investigate the effects of low (auroral) and middle (radiation belt) energy range electrons, separately and in combination, on reactive nitrogen and hydrogen species as well as on ozone during Southern Hemisphere winters from 2002 to 2010 using the SOCOL3-MPIOM chemistry-climate model. Our results show that, in the absence of solar proton events, low-energy electrons produce the majority of NOy in the polar mesosphere and stratosphere. In the polar vortex, NOy subsides and affects ozone at lower altitudes, down to 10 hPa. Comparing a year with high electron precipitation with a quiescent period, we found large ozone depletion in the mesosphere; as the anomaly propagates downward, 15 % less ozone is found in the stratosphere during winter, which is confirmed by satellite observations. Only with both low- and middle-energy electrons does our model reproduce the observed stratospheric ozone anomaly.

scholarly journals Reactive nitrogen (NO<sub><i>y</i></sub>) and ozone responses to energetic electron precipitation during Southern Hemisphere winter

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavle Arsenovic ◽  
Alessandro Damiani ◽  
Eugene Rozanov ◽  
Bernd Funke ◽  
Andrea Stenke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Energetic Electron ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Solar Proton ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen ◽  
High Electron

Abstract. Energetic particle precipitation (EPP) affects the chemistry of the polar middle atmosphere by producing reactive nitrogen (NOy) and hydrogen (HOx) species, which then catalytically destroy ozone. Recently, there have been major advances in constraining these particle impacts through a parametrization based on high quality observations. Here we investigate the effects of low (auroral) and middle (radiation belt) energy range electrons, separately and in combination, on reactive nitrogen and hydrogen species as well as on ozone during Southern Hemisphere winters from 2002 to 2010 using the chemistry-climate model SOCOL3-MPIOM. Our results show that, in absence of solar proton events, low energy electrons produce the majority of NOy in the polar mesosphere and stratosphere. In the polar vortex, NOy subsides and affects ozone at lower altitudes, down to 10 hPa. Comparing a year with high electron precipitation with a quiescent period, we found large ozone depletion in the mesosphere; as the anomaly propagates downward, 15 % less ozone is found in the stratosphere during winter, which is confirmed by satellite observations. Only with both low and middle energy electrons, our model reproduces the observed stratospheric ozone anomaly.

scholarly journals The Predictive Capabilities of the Auroral Electrojet Index for Medium Energy Electron Precipitation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Nesse Tyssøy ◽  
N. Partamies ◽  
E. M. Babu ◽  
C. Smith-Johnsen ◽  
J. A. Salice
Keyword(s):  
Decadal Variability ◽  
Particle Interaction ◽  
Energetic Electron ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Electron ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
Medium Energy ◽  
Ae Index ◽  
High Energy Tail ◽  
Potential Link

The chemical imprint of the energetic electron precipitation on the atmosphere is now acknowledged as a part of the natural forcing of the climate system. It has, however, been questioned to which degree current proxies are able to quantify the medium energy electron (MEE) (≳30 keV) precipitation and the associated daily and decadal variability. It is particularly challenging to model the high energy tail (≳300 keV) of MEE, both in terms of the intensity as well as the timing. This study explores the predictive capabilities of the AE index for the MEE precipitation. MEE measurements from the NOAA/POES over a full solar cycle from 2004 to 2014 are applied. We combine observations from the MEPED 0° and 90° detectors together with theory of pitch angle diffusion by wave-particle interaction to estimate the precipitating fluxes. To explore the energy dependent time scales, each of the MEPED energy channels, &gt; 43, &gt;114, and &gt;292 keV are evaluated independently. While there is a strong correlation between the daily resolved AE index and &gt;43 keV fluxes, it is a poor predictor for the &gt;292 keV fluxes. We create new AE based MEE proxies by accumulating the AE activity over multiple days, including terms counting for the associated lifetimes. The results indicate that AE based proxies can predict at least 70% of the observed MEE precipitation variance at all energies. The potential link between the AE index, substorms and the MEE precipitation is discussed.

scholarly journals Spectra of high energy electron precipitation and atmospheric ionization rates retrieval from balloon measurements

2019 ◽  
Vol 693 ◽  
pp. 133242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Mironova ◽  
Galina Bazilevskaya ◽  
Gennady Kovaltsov ◽  
Anton Artamonov ◽  
Eugene Rozanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Electron ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
High Energy Electron ◽  
Atmospheric Ionization ◽  
Balloon Measurements ◽  
Ionization Rates
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