First comparison of travelling atmospheric disturbances observed in the middle thermosphere by GOLD to travelling ionospheric disturbances seen in ground-based total electron content observations Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • ; Travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) and their neutral; counterparts known as travelling atmospheric disturbances (TADs) are; believed to play a central role in redistributing energy and momentum in; the upper atmosphere and communicating inputs to other locations in the; fluid. While these two phenomena are believed to be connected, they may; not have a one-to-one correspondence as the geomagnetic field influences; the TID but has no direct impact on the TAD. The relative amplitudes of; the perturbations seen in the ionosphere and atmosphere have been; observed but rarely together. This study reports results from a; three-day campaign to observe TIDs and TADs simultaneously over a broad; latitudinal region over the eastern United States using a combination of; GOLD and a distributed network of ground based Global Navigation; Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. These results demonstrate that GOLD; and the ground-based total electron content (TEC) observations can see; the atmospheric and ionospheric portions of a large-scale travelling; disturbance. The phase difference in the perturbations to the GOLD; airglow brightness, O/N; 2; and thermospheric disk; temperature are consistent with an atmospheric gravity wave moving; through this region. The ionospheric signatures move at the same rate as; those in the atmosphere, but their amplitudes do not have a simple; correspondence to the amplitude of the signal seen in the atmosphere.; This campaign demonstrates a proof-of-concept that this combination of; observations is able to provide information on TIDs and TADs, including; quantifying their impact on the temperature and chemical composition of; the upper atmosphere.;

publication date

  • March 11, 2021

has restriction

  • hybrid

Date in CU Experts

  • May 28, 2021 6:17 AM

Full Author List

  • England SL; Greer KR; Zhang S-R; Evans JS; Solomon SC; Eastes RW; McClintock WE; Burns AG

author count

  • 8

Other Profiles