The response of atmospheric and lower ionospheric layer structures to gravity waves

Abstract

We solve the linear problem of the density response of a neutral or ionospheric layer structure of arbitrary density profile to gravity wave perturbations in the background atmosphere. It is shown that the density response of the bottomside of the structure is of larger amplitude than the topside, whereas the general magnitude of the density response depends on the relative sharpness of the layer density gradient in comparison to the gradient of the quiescent background atmosphere. The sharper the layer gradient, the larger the layer density response. Interpretation and application of our results to the ozone and atomic oxygen layers, the sporadic‐E layer and to the D and E regions of the ionosphere are discussed.

Investigation of a mesospheric gravity wave ducting event using coordinated sodium lidar and Mesospheric Temperature Mapper measurements at ALOMAR, Norway (69°N)

“…Sodium density perturbations due to GWs have previously been simulated [Swenson and Gardener, 1998;Shelton et al, 1980] using a relation derived by Chiu and Ching [1978]. Sodium density perturbations can be derived from the sodium continuity equation and are given by…”

Simultaneous, common‐volume lidar observations and theoretical studies of correlations among Fe/Na layers and temperatures in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at Boulder Table Mountain (40°N, 105°W), Colorado

“…The first attempt to characterize the wave-induced fluctuations of a neutral, chemically inert constituent layer was published by Chiu and Ching [1978]. They used a perturbation series analysis of the continuity equation and the gravity wave polarization relations to compute the linear response to a monochromatic wave and applied the results to the stratospheric ozone layer.…”

Gravity Wave Characteristics Derived from Structured Atomic Oxygen Profile and Multiple Es Layers.

“…Models 3.1 Density response of atomic oxygen The fact that the chemical time constant of atomic oxygen is much longer than the gravity wave period allows us to apply the density response theory developed by Chiu and Ching (1978) and Gardner and Shelton (1985). We take a right-handed coordinate with the x-axis directed eastward, the y-axis northward and the z-axis vertically upward.…”