Evidence for nonlinear coupling of planetary waves and tides in the lower thermosphere over Bulgaria

Analyses of hourly values of zonal and meridional wind near 95 km observed by meteor radar at Yambol (42.5°N, 26.6°E) during January 1991–June 1992 indicate the presence of planetary waves with prevailing periods of 1.5–2.5, 4–6, 9–10 and 16–18 days. About 20% of the whole power of atmospheric motions is connected with these waves, so they play an important role in the dynamics of the mesosphere-lower thermosphere (MLT) region. By dynamic spectral analysis applied to the hourly neutral wind and to the calculated hourly values of tidal amplitudes it has been demonstrated that there is considerable modulation of tidal amplitudes by planetary waves in the neutral wind, as this process is better expressed in the semidiurnal tides. The nonlinear interaction between tides and planetary waves is studied by bispectral analysis. The results of these analyses indicate again that the nonlinear interactions between semidiurnal tides and planetary waves with periods 2–20 days are stronger than those of the diurnal tides and planetary waves. A peculiar feature of dynamics in the MLT region above Bulgaria is the presence of strong oscillations with periods of 20 and 30 h, which indicate significant nonlinear coupling between them.