All Physics Faculty Publications

Quiet variability of equatorial E × B driftsduring a sudden stratospheric warning event

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Geophysical Research Letters

Volume

36

Issue

L05101

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Publication Date

2009

Abstract

We present strong evidence that during the January 2008 minor sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event, the equatorial vertical E × B drifts exhibit a unique and distinctive daytime pattern. We do not think one event causes the other, however both events might be related through the global effects of planetary waves. The drifts were measured by the Jicamarca Incoherent scatter radar located under the magnetic equator. We have observed an anomalous temporal variation of the vertical E × B drifts during the minor SSW event, showing a semidiurnal variation with very large amplitudes lasting for several days. Large differences in the E × B drifts were observed during a period of large increase of temperature and a large decrease of mean zonal wind, in the high latitude stratosphere (60°–90°N). This high correlation is an unexpected finding which might shed new light on sources and mechanisms of quiet-time ionospheric variability.

https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL036785

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS