Wave-4 structure of the neutral density in the thermosphere and its relation to atmospheric tides

Yasunobu Miyoshi, Hidekatsu Jin, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Hiroyuki Shinagawa, Huixin Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The generation mechanism for the 4-peak longitudinal structure of the neutral density in the upper thermosphere is examined using an atmosphere-ionosphere coupled model. Our result indicates that the wave-4 structure of the neutral density in the upper thermosphere is caused by the upward propagation of the eastward diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber 3 (DE3) and the eastward semidiurnal tide with zonal wavenumber 2 (SE2) from the troposphere. The wave-4 structure of the neutral density in the equatorial region is mainly generated by the DE3, while the SE2 is important for the generation of the wave-4 structure in middle latitudes. Our simulation demonstrates that the wave-4 structure is evident at the height range from 150. km to 500. km. Furthermore, we examine the day-to-day variation of the wave-4 amplitude of the neutral density at 400. km height and its relation with the SE2 and DE3 amplitudes at various heights.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-51
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Volume90
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Space and Planetary Science

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