Formation of large-scale disturbances in the upper atmosphere caused by acoustic gravity wave sources on the Earth’s surface

The results of a model study of the acoustic gravity wave (AGW) propagation from the Earth’s surface to the upper atmospheric altitudes have been considered. Numerical calculations have been performed using a nonhydrostatic model of the atmosphere, which takes into account nonlinear and dissipative processes originating when waves propagate upward. The model source of atmospheric disturbances has been specified in an area localized on the Earth’s surface. The disturbance source frequency spectrum includes harmonics at frequencies of 0.5ωg-1.5ωg (ωg is the Brunt-Väisälä frequency near the Earth’s surface). The calculations indicated that AGW propagation and dissipation over the source result in the fact that the region of large-scale spatial disturbances of the upper atmosphere mean state is formed at ～200 km altitudes. This region substantially affects AGW propagation and results in waveguide propagation of AGWs with periods shorter than the Väisälä-Brunt period at the altitude of a disturbed atmosphere. The dissipation of AGWs propagating in such a waveguide results in a waveguide horizontal expansion. The extension of the disturbed region of the mean state of the upper atmosphere and, consequently, the waveguide length can reach ～1000 km, if the AGW ground source operates for ～1 h. The physical mechanism by which large-scale disturbances are formed in the upper atmosphere, based on the propagation and dissipation of AGWs with periods shorter than the Väisälä-Brunt period in the upper atmosphere, explains why these disturbances are rapidly generated and localized above AGW sources located on the Earth’s surface or in the lower atmosphere.     

Ranges of AGW propagation in the Earth’s atmosphere

The propagation of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) is studied in the context of geometrical optics in the nonisothermal, viscous, and thermal-conductive atmosphere of Earth in the presence of wind shifts. Parametric diagrams are plotted, determining the regions of allowed frequencies and horizontal phase velocities of AGWs depending on the altitude. It is shown that a part of the spectrum of AGWs propagates in stationary air in an altitude range from the Earth’s surface through the ionospheric F1 layer. AGW from nearearth sources attenuate below 250 km, while waves generated at altitudes of about 300 km and higher do not reach the Earth’s surface because of the inner reflection from the thermosphere base. The pattern changes under strong thermospheric winds. AGW dissipation decreases with an adverse wind shift and, hence, a part of the wave spectrum penetrated from the lower atmosphere to the altitudes of F2 layer.     

Distribution of medium-scale acoustic gravity waves in polar regions according to satellite measurement data

The peculiarities of the distribution of medium-scale acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) in polar regions according to the data of measurements on board the Dynamics Explorer 2 satellite are studied. Over polar regions of both hemispheres at heights of 250–400 km, wave variations in neutral atmospheric parameters were systematically registered. These variations were identified as AGWs with horizontal wavelengths of 500–650 km. The relative amplitudes of polar AGWs in a neutral concentration reach 10%. Wave trains extend over the polar caps to thousands of kilometers and show a distinct spatial relationship with the auroral oval. A systematic direction is found in AGW propagation from the nighttime sector of the oval into the day-time sector, where wave activity is strictly limited. An assumption is formulated that this restriction is caused by dynamic interactions between AGWs and the zonal wind in the daytime sector of the auroral oval.     

Energy balance of acoustic gravity waves above the polar caps according to the data of satellite measurements

Wave disturbances of the Neutral Atmosphere above the polar caps are studied based on the Dynamic Explorer 2 satellite measurements. The characteristic spatial scales of these disturbances are 500— 600 km. Based on an analysis of the synchronous variations in different parameters, these disturbances were interpreted as propagating acoustic gravity waves (AGWs). The mass-spectrometer measurements of concentrations of individual atmospheric gases made it possible to determine the following AGW components: density of the acoustic compression, thermobaric, and average kinetic energies. It has been found out that the average (during the period) densities of the acoustic and thermobaric energies are approximately equal for polar AGWs. The results indicate that the contribution of these waves to the energy of the polar upper atmosphere is considerable.     

Variations in the characteristics of acoustic gravity waves according to simulation data

The characteristics of different-scale acoustic gravity waves (wavelengths of 100–1200 km, periods of 10–50 min) under different geophysical conditions have been studied using a numerical model for calculating the vertical structure of these waves in a nonisothermal atmosphere in the presence of an altitudedependent background wind and in a situation when molecular dissipation is taken into account. It has been established that all considered acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) effectively reach altitudes of the thermosphere. The character of the amplitude vertical profile depends on the AGW scales. The seasonal and latitudinal differences in the AGW vertical structure depend on the background wind and temperature. A strong thermospheric wind causes the rapid damping of medium-scale AGWs propagating along the wind. Waves with long periods to a lesser degree depend on dissipation in the thermosphere and can penetrate to high altitudes. A change in the geomagnetic activity level affects the background wind vertical distribution at high latitudes, as a result of which the AGW vertical structure varies.     

Nonequilibrium Effects in Atmospheric Perturbations Caused by Solar Radiation Flux

The effects of atmospheric nonequilibrium in the generation of wave perturbations due to the solar radiation flux are studied. Equations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics are used to perform an assessment of the channels of solar energy transformation into the atmosphere for different altitudes. As a result of calculations of the dispersion relation for a nonequilibrium atmosphere, we consider how the flux of solar radiation changes the spectrum of natural atmospheric oscillations at different altitudes and for different solar activities. A qualitative relation between the results of wave spectra calculations and the data of ionosphere dynamics observations for different intensities of the solar radiation flux has been established.     

Incoherent scatter radar observations of AGW/TID events generated by the moving solar terminator

Observations of traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) associated with atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) generated by the moving solar terminator have been made with the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar. Three experiments near 1995 fall equinox measured the AGW/TID velocity and direction of motion. Spectral and cross-correlation analysis of the ionospheric density observations indicates that ST-generated AGWs/TIDs were observed during each experiment, with the more-pronounced effect occurring at sunrise. The strongest oscillations in the ionospheric parameters have periods of 1.5 to 2 hours. The group and phase velocities have been determined and show that the disturbances propagate in the horizontal plane perpendicular to the terminator with the group velocity of 300–400 m s^–1 that corresponds to the ST speed at ionospheric heights. The high horizontal group velocity seems to contradict the accepted theory of AGW/TID propagation and indicates a need for additional investigation.     

Observed features of acoustic gravity waves in the heterosphere

According to measurements on the Dynamic Explorer 2 satellite, features of the propagation of acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) in the multicomponent upper atmosphere have been investigated. In the altitude range 250–400 km in wave concentration variations of some atmospheric gases, amplitude and phase differences have been observed. Using the approach proposed in this paper, in different gases, AGW variations have been divided into components associated with elastic compression, adiabatic expansion, and the vertical background distribution. The amplitude and phase differences observed in different gases are explained on the basis of analyzing these components. It is shown how to use this effect in order to determine the wave propagation, the vertical displacement of the volume element, the wave frequency, and the spatial distribution of the wave energy density.     

Analysis of diurnal dynamics of the geomagnetic field variation spectrum

A statistical analysis of the variations of three components of the Earth’s magnetic field obtained at Almaty during 2008 is performed. It is found that in the daytime and nighttime periods, a distinct difference in the spectra of variations with periods corresponding to acoustic-gravity waves is observed. An explanation of this difference is proposed. It is based on the mechanism of change in the acoustic-gravity wave spectrum caused by the interaction of atmospheric gas with solar radiation.     

A study of the Joule and Lorentz inputs in the production of atmospheric gravity waves in the upper thermosphere

First results of a modelling study of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) are presented. A fully-coupled global thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere model is used to examine the relative importance of Lorentz forcing and Joule heating in the generation of AGWs. It is found that Joule heating is the dominant component above 110km. The effects of the direction of the Lorentz forcing component on the subsequent propagation of the AGW are also addressed. It is found that enhancement of zonal E × B forcing results in AGWs at F-region altitudes of similar magnitudes travelling from the region of forcing in both poleward and equatorward directions, whilst enhancement of equatorward meridional E × B forcing results in AGWs travelling both poleward and equatorward, but with the magnitude of the poleward wave severely attenuated compared with the equatorward wave.     

Peculiarities of energy transport in the atmosphere by acoustic gravity waves

The dependence of energy transport by acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) on their spectral properties is studied. On the basis of the analysis of expressions for group velocities and energy fluxes of AGWs, it is shown that there exist separate frequencies and wavelengths at which the energy transport in space is most efficient. Comparison of the obtained results with the data of observations on board the Dynamic Explorer 2 satellite shows that, in the upper atmosphere of the Earth’s polar regions, AGWs with spectral parameters corresponding to the maximum of energy transport predominate.     

垂直切变风场中声重波的Burgers-KdV方程研究

本文从可压缩流体的原始动力学方程出发,利用二维约化摄动方法推导出垂直切变风场中考虑曳引效应的二维声重波的Burgers-KdV方程,并对其非线性性态作了一些研究.主要结果:1.声重波在远场处能激发起孤波和多周期波列等非线性波动;2.给出上述非线性波动与大气背景风场、密度等的制约关系;3.进一步推测大气风剪切是E_s形成的可能机制.从本文推导出的方程出发,可进一步研究声重波远场处的相互作用、能量转换、不稳定性和定源等问题.     

Localized packets of acoustic gravity waves in the ionosphere

Using mass-spectrometric measurement data from the Dynamics Explorer 2 satellite, we investigated the distribution of medium-scale acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) at altitudes of the F-region of the ionosphere. It is shown that the planetary field of AGWs contains a regular and a sporadic component. The regular distribution of AGWs involves active polar areas (where the ionosphere is highly disturbed) and a relatively calm equatorial area. Sporadic AGWs are isolated and spatially localized wave packets that are distinguished against the background of the regular distribution of the wave field. We generated a directory containing observations of sporadic AGW for the period January–February 1983 and performed a statistical analysis of their relation to earthquakes.     

Physical models of coupling in the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere system before earthquakes

The most important models of coupling in the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere system are considered. In some of these models, it is assumed that atmospheric acoustic and acoustic gravity waves (AGWs), which propagate through the atmosphere and reach ionospheric altitudes (resulting in the generation of electric field disturbances and modulation of charged particle density), are generated in the near-Earth atmosphere over the earthquake preparation region. In other models it is assumed that ionospheric disturbances originate owing to the modification of electric fields and currents due to electric processes in the lithosphere or near-Earth atmosphere. It seems impossible to stress on only one model and reject the remaining models because the characteristic spatial scales of effects observed in the ionosphere before earthquakes vary from 200–300 km to several thousand kilometers, and the characteristic times vary from several minutes to several days. We can assume that there are several physical mechanisms by which the lithosphere-ionosphere coupling is actually implemented.     

垂直切变风场中声重波的谱传播

本文研究声重波在垂直切变风场中传播时谱结构的改变。根据可压缩情况下的流体力学方程组,导出垂直切变风场中大气声重波的谱方程。并指出,这个谱方程是Taylor-Goldstein方程在可压缩和任意垂直波长情况下的推广。由谱方程出发,考虑低边界上的声重波强迫为高斯谱型,采用差分方法,我们计算了ω-K_H二维空间中的高层谱响应。结果表明,在具有垂直切变的背景风场作用下,声重波的谱结构发生了改变:1.在原强迫谱所覆盖的谱区段内,一些谱成份被挖除,形成了尖锐的谱峰群;2.最大谱峰发生了偏移;3.波谱变得狭窄。这些变化是垂直切变风场对声重波谱滤波的结果。文中还将上述结论与电离层观测结果进行比较,解释了某些观测现象。     

Studying the dynamics of the lunar daily geomagnetic variations

Results of studying the lunar daily geomagnetic variations in the spectral and time regions at the network of observatories are presented. The seasonal variations in the amplitudes of the fundamental harmonic constituents of three lunar variation components have been revealed. The seasonal time variations have been analyzed using the digital bandpass filtering and harmonic synthesis based on the data of the Kakioka and Memambetsu geomagnetic observatories. The 11-year solar cycle and annual and semiannual periods have been distinguished in the seasonal variation spectrum. Studying the spectral singularities of the lunar daily variation at these observatories and the sea level variations in daytime and nighttime hours has made it possible to identify the contribution of the oceanic dynamo to the lunar variation vertical component.     

GPS monitoring of ionospheric disturbances generated during rocket launches at large distances from launch sites

Wave-like disturbances, caused by the launches of the Soyuz and Proton rockets from the Baikonur site, have been studied using the algorithm of the space-time accumulation of variations in the total electron content (TEC). Ionospheric TEC responses, observed on four GPS arrays at a distance of up to 4000 km from the launch site, represent a quasi-periodic oscillation with a period of 15–20 min, duration of 30–40 min, and amplitude of 0.1 TECU. The propagation velocity of wave-like disturbances is 300–1400 m/s, which corresponds to the range of sonic and supersonic velocities at an altitude of the ionospheric ionization maximum. Wave-like disturbances of TEC are caused by acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) propagating in the Earth’s atmosphere over large distances from a source. It has been established that the rocket launch region and rocket trajectory active legs, when a rocket moves under the action of the second and third operating stages of a propulsion device, are responsible for AGW generation.     

A study of atmospheric gravity waves and travelling ionospheric disturbances at equatorial latitudes

A global coupled thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere model is used to simulate a family of large-scale imperfectly ducted atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) and associated travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) originating at conjugate magnetic latitudes in the north and south auroral zones and subsequently propagating meridionally to equatorial latitudes. A fast dominant mode and two slower modes are identified. We find that, at the magnetic equator, all the clearly identified modes of AGW interfere constructively and pass through to the opposite hemisphere with unchanged velocity. At F-region altitudes the fast AGW has the largest amplitude, and when northward propagating and southward propagating modes interfere at the equator, the TID (as parameterised by the fractional change in the electron density at the F2 peak) increases in magnitude at the equator. The amplitude of the TID at the magnetic equator is increased compared to mid-latitudes in both upper and lower F-regions with a larger increase in the upper F-region. The ionospheric disturbance at the equator persists in the upper F-region for about 1 hour and in the lower F-region for 2.5 hours after the AGWs first interfere, and it is suggested that this is due to enhancements of the TID by slower AGW modes arriving later at the magnetic equator. The complex effects of the interplays of the TIDs generated in the equatorial plasmasphere are analysed by examining neutral and ion winds predicted by the model, and are demonstrated to be consequences of the forcing of the plasmasphere along the magnetic field lines by the neutral air pressure wave.     

Microseismic noise in northern European Russia: Seismic recordings in the town of Vorkuta

Microseismic noise was studied in the frequency range 0.5–30 Hz in the conditions prevailing in the town of Vorkuta. A seismic noise model was developed consisting of power spectral densities of ground motion velocity separately for daytime and nighttime in different frequency ranges. The absolute noise level for frequencies of 1–5 Hz in Vorkuta varies between −140 and −150 dB in daytime and from −152 to −158 dB in nighttime, with the ranges for the 8-15 Hz noise being −140 to −155 dB in daytime and −155 to −165 dB in nighttime. Well-pronounced daily variations in noise amplitude were observed in the frequency ranges 1.5–3 Hz and 14–17 Hz. The noise amplitude varies by 7 dB over 24 hours, with the amplitude of horizontal component variation being 5 dB above that of the vertical component. The power spectral densities of ground motion velocity in the microseismic noise involve several spectral peaks, whose central frequencies did not vary by more than 0.15 Hz during the entire period of instrumental observation. The seismic background in the town of Vorkuta contains seismic events due to distant earthquakes and local industrial explosions.     

Global pattern of the ionospheric response to large-scale internal gravity waves

The global pattern of the ionospheric response to large-scale acoustic gravity waves (LS AGW) has been constructed on the basis of an analysis of the large data set available during the 22 March 1979, magnetic storm. Ground-based ionospheric measurements and in-situ satellite measurements from Cosmos-900 were used in this study together with the Joule heating distribution in the high-latitude ionosphere specifically taken at the maxima of two substorms. The characteristics of the reconstructed planetary pattern of the LS AGW have been analysed in detail. It has been established that the LS AGW effects in the ionosphere in terms of both universal and local time were determined by the pattern of high-latitude atmospheric heating, and that the wave front of the LS AGW during both substorms covered practically all local times, i.e. all longitudes. In addition, it was established that one of the sources of the LS AGW was the thermospheric heating in the day-side cusp region. The local time dependence of the amplitude of the AGW effect in both maximum height, h_mF2, and critical frequency, f_OF2, has been reconstructed for the mid-latitude F2 layer. The AGW effects were clearly separated from the electric field effects related to turnings of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B_Z. In the day-time, electric field effects prevailed over the AGW effects, but during the night-time the amplitudes of these two effects were comparable. In contrast to the common view, f_OF2 variations after the AGW passage had a quasi-sinusoidal character both in the day-time and in the night-time. In the night-time ionosphere a high degree of symmetry was observed for the AGW effects in Northern and Southern hemispheres. During the day-time a significant asymmetry was observed in the American longitudinal sector which was related largely to the peculiarities of the heating pattern in the high-latitude ionospheres of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. These observations demonstrate the complexity of the response of the ionosphere at all latitudes to heating of the auroral region.