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Article
Ionospheric Signatures of Acoustic Waves Generated by Transient Tropospheric Forcing
Geophysical Research Letters
  • M. D. Zettergren, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • J. B. Snively, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Physical Sciences
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
10-17-2013
Disciplines
Abstract/Description

Acoustic waves generated by tropospheric sources may attain significant amplitudes in the thermosphere and overlying ionosphere. Although they are weak precursors to gravity waves in the mesosphere below, acoustic waves may achieve temperature and vertical wind perturbations on the order of approximately tens of Kelvin and m/s throughout the E and F regions. Their perturbations to total electron content are predicted to be detectable by groundbased radar and GPS receivers; they also drive field-aligned currents that may be detectable in situ via magnetometers. Although transient and short lived, ionospheric signatures of acoustic waves may provide new and quantitative insight into the forcing of the upper atmosphere from below.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL058018
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Grant or Award Name
NSF CAREER grants AGS-1255181 and AGS-1151746
Citation Information
Zettergren, M. D., and J. B. Snively (2013), Ionospheric signatures of acoustic waves generated by transient tropospheric forcing, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 5345–5349, doi:10.1002/ 2013GL058018