Influence of Solar Magnetic Sector Structure on Terrestrial Atmospheric Vorticity

Wilcox, John M.; Scherrer, P. H.; Svalgaard, Leif; Roberts, Walter Orr; Olson, Roger H.; Jenne, Roy L.

doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1974)031<0581:iosmss>2.0.co;2

Cited by 131 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…A correlation has been found between the solar wind and tropospheric circulation on the scale of days (Wilcox et al, 1973(Wilcox et al, , 1974(Wilcox et al, , 1976. That correlation involves the relationship between the passage of the Earth through the solar wind magnetic sector boundary or heliospheric current sheet (HCS) and a decrease in the upper-level tropospheric vorticity, as found by Wilcox et al The vorticity area index (VAI) that was introduced by was used in superposed epoch analysis that showed the "Wilcox effect", namely a decrease in VAI one day after the HCS passage.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…A statistically significant response of the high-level cloud area index (HCAI) to fast solar wind from coronal holes is found in mid-tohigh latitudes during autumn-winter and in low latitudes during spring-summer. In the extratropics, this response of the HCAI to solar wind forcing is consistent with the effect on tropospheric vorticity found by Wilcox et al (1974) and verified by Prikryl et al (2009). In the tropics, the observed HCAI response, namely a decrease in HCAI at the arrival of solar wind stream followed by an increase a few days later, is similar to that in the northern and southern mid-to-high latitudes.…”

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confidence: 75%

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The influence of solar wind on extratropical cyclones – Part 2: A link mediated by auroral atmospheric gravity waves?

2009

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Abstract. Cases of mesoscale cloud bands in extratropical cyclones are observed a few hours after atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) are launched from the auroral ionosphere. It is suggested that the solar-wind-generated auroral AGWs contribute to processes that release instabilities and initiate slantwise convection thus leading to cloud bands and growth of extratropical cyclones. Also, if the AGWs are ducted to low latitudes, they could influence the development of tropical cyclones. The gravity-wave-induced vertical lift may modulate the slantwise convection by releasing the moist symmetric instability at near-threshold conditions in the warm frontal zone of extratropical cyclones. Latent heat release associated with the mesoscale slantwise convection has been linked to explosive cyclogenesis and severe weather. The circumstantial and statistical evidence of the solar wind influence on extratropical cyclones is further supported by a statistical analysis of high-level clouds (<440 mb) extracted from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) D1 dataset. A statistically significant response of the high-level cloud area index (HCAI) to fast solar wind from coronal holes is found in mid-tohigh latitudes during autumn-winter and in low latitudes during spring-summer. In the extratropics, this response of the HCAI to solar wind forcing is consistent with the effect on tropospheric vorticity found by Wilcox et al. (1974) and verified by Prikryl et al. (2009). In the tropics, the observed HCAI response, namely a decrease in HCAI at the arrival of solar wind stream followed by an increase a few days later, is similar to that in the northern and southern mid-to-high latitudes. The amplitude of the response nearly doubles for stream interfaces associated with the interplanetary magnetic field B Z component shifting southward. When the IMF B Z after the stream interface shifts northward, the autumn-winter Correspondence to: P. Prikryl (paul.prikryl@crc.ca) effect weakens or shifts to lower (mid) latitudes and no statistically significant response is found at low latitudes in springsummer. The observed effect persists through years of low and high volcanic aerosol loading. The similarity of the response in mid-to-high and low latitudes, the lack of dependence upon aerosol loading, and the enhanced amplitude of the effect when IMF B Z component shifts southward, favor the proposed AGW link over the atmospheric electric circuit (AEC) mechanism (Tinsley et al., 1994). The latter requires the presence of stratospheric aerosols for a significant effect and should produce negative and positive cloud anomalies in mid-to-high and low latitudes, respectively. However, if the requirement of aerosols for the AEC mechanism can be relaxed, the AGW and AEC mechanisms should work in synergy at least in mid-to-high latitudes.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 87%

supporting

confidence: 75%

The influence of solar wind on extratropical cyclones – Part 2: A link mediated by auroral atmospheric gravity waves?

2009

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“…In a continuation of this investigation,-. Wilcox et al (1973&) found that the effect is present at all (Wilcox et al, 1973a, b). levels in the troposphere but only in the lowest portion of the stratosphere., The effect is not confined to a single interval of longitude or of latitude.…”

Section: Investigations Of the Effect Of Solar Activity On The Weathermentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar activity and the weather

Wilcox

1975

Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics

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The attempts during the past century to establish a connection between solar activity and the .weather are discussed. Some critical remarks about the quality,of much of the literature , in this field are given. Several recent investigations are summarized. Use of the solar/ interplanetary magnetic sector structure in future investigations is suggested to perhaps add an element of cohesiveness and interaction to these investigations.That there is a causal connection between the observed variations in the forces of the Sun, the terrestrial magnetic field, and the meteorological elements has been the conclusion of every research into this subject for the past 50 years. The elucidation of exactly what the connection is and the scientific proof of it is to be classed among the most, difficult problems presented in terrestrial physics. The evidence adduced in favor of this conclu : sion is on the whole of a cumulative kind, since the direct sequence of cause and effect is so far masked in the complex interaction of the many delicate forces in operation as to render its' immediate measurement quite impossible in the present state of science..Before attempting to abstract the results of this research on these points a brief resume of the views held by the leading investigators will be given, especially with the object of presenting the status of the problem to those who are not fully acquainted with this line of scientific literature.

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“…A considerable influence of the solar sector structure on tropospheric vorticity has been found by Wilcox et al (1974), as illustrated in Figure 1. Hines and Halevy (1975) When the interplanetary field has polarity toward the sun the role of the northern and southern polar caps is reversed.…”

Section: Ddmentioning

confidence: 95%

A synoptic approach to Sun-weather investigations

Wilcox

1977

Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics

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Influence of Solar Magnetic Sector Structure on Terrestrial Atmospheric Vorticity

Cited by 131 publications

References 17 publications

The influence of solar wind on extratropical cyclones – Part 2: A link mediated by auroral atmospheric gravity waves?

The influence of solar wind on extratropical cyclones – Part 2: A link mediated by auroral atmospheric gravity waves?

Solar activity and the weather

A synoptic approach to Sun-weather investigations

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