A Review of the Effects of Non-migrating Atmospheric Tides on the Earth\textquoterights Low-Latitude Ionosphere

Abstract

Solar thermal tides are planetary-scale waves in the neutral atmosphere with periods that are harmonics of 24\ hours. In the thermosphere, they can achieve significant amplitude and can be the dominant source of variation in the atmosphere. Through their modification of the neutral atmosphere, they can also significantly modify the ionosphere, especially at low-latitudes where the dynamics of the Earth\textquoterights ionosphere is determined to a large extent by the neutral atmosphere. Much recent work has focused on characterizing and understanding the impact of one sub-group of tides, known as non-migrating tides, on the ionosphere. Whereas migrating tides are responsible for creating strong day-night variations in the ionosphere, non-migrating tides create longitudinal variations in the ionosphere, the signature of which can only be detected with distributed networks of ground-based observations or spacecraft. The present work reviews the recent observations and modeling efforts that have helped to characterize and explain this longitudinal variability. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics of tides throughout the thermosphere, their impacts on the chemical composition of the thermosphere, and impacts on the ionosphere.

Year of Publication
2012
Journal
Space Science Reviews
Volume
168
Number of Pages
211-236
Date Published
06/2012
ISSN Number
0038-6308
URL
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11214-011-9842-4http://www.springerlink.com/index/pdf/10.1007/s11214-011-9842-4
DOI
10.1007/s11214-011-9842-4
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