Abstract The global 3‐dimensional structure of the concentric traveling ionospheric disturbances (CTIDs) triggered by 2022 Tonga volcano was reconstructed by using the 3‐dimensional computerized ionospheric tomography (3DCIT) technique and extensive global navigation satellite system (GNSS) observations. This study provides the first estimation of the CTIDs vertical wavelengths, ∼736 km, which was much larger than the gravity wave (GW) vertical wavelength, 240–400 km, estimated using ICON neutral wind observations. Notable trend with the variation of azimuth was also found in horizontal speeds at 200 and 500 km altitudes and differences between them. These results imply that (a) the global propagation of Lamb waves determined the arrival time of local ionospheric disturbances, and (b) the arriving Lamb waves caused vertical atmospheric perturbations that are not typical of GWs, resulting in local thermospheric horizontal wave propagation which is faster than the Lamb wave propagation at lower altitudes.
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Inferring neutral winds in the ionospheric transition region from atmospheric-gravity-wave traveling-ionospheric-disturbance (AGW-TID) observations with the EISCAT VHF radar and the Nordic Meteor Radar Cluster
Abstract. Atmospheric gravity waves and traveling ionospheric disturbances can be observed in the neutral atmosphere and the ionosphere at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Especially at medium scales, these oscillations are often not resolved in general circulation models and are parameterized. We show that ionospheric disturbances forced by upward-propagating atmospheric gravity waves can be simultaneously observed with the EISCAT very high frequency incoherent scatter radar and the Nordic Meteor Radar Cluster. From combined multi-static measurements, both vertical and horizontal wave parameters can be determined by applying a specially developed Fourier filter analysis method. This method is demonstrated using the example of a strongly pronounced wave mode that occurred during the EISCAT experiment on 7 July 2020. Leveraging the developed technique, we show that the wave characteristics of traveling ionospheric disturbances are notably impacted by the fall transition of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. We also demonstrate the application of using the determined wave parameters to infer the thermospheric neutral wind velocities. Applying the dissipative anelastic gravity wave dispersion relation, we obtain vertical wind profiles in the lower thermosphere.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1832988
- PAR ID:
- 10553744
- Publisher / Repository:
- Annales Geophysicae
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Annales Geophysicae
- Volume:
- 41
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 1432-0576
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 409 to 428
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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