Infrared response of the thermosphere-ionosphere system to geomagnetic storms

Abstract:

For 14 years the SABER instrument on the NASA TIMED satellite has been observing the radiative cooling of the thermosphere-ionosphere system associated with infrared emission by nitric oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). From these observations a very clear picture of fundamental processes that control the thermal structure above 100 km has emerged. The radiative cooling is modulated by variations in solar UV irradiance and geomagnetic effects. A pronounced solar cycle variation in both NO and CO₂ cooling is observed, and CO₂ cooling dominates during solar minimum. Radiative cooling in the current maximum peaked in December 2014, nine months after the sunspot peak. On average, solar ultraviolet irradiance provides about 70% of the energy that results in cooling by NO and the remaining 30% arises from geomagnetic processes. The relative roles of irradiance and geomagnetism vary strongly over a solar cycle. Of particular interest are the large, short-term increases in radiative cooling associated with intense geomagnetic storms. The large energy deposition heats the atmosphere and the infrared cooling increases non-linearly, helping the atmosphere to shed the storm energy and rapidly return to pre-storm conditions. This “natural thermostat” effect of infrared radiation will be shown in detail in this talk, as a function of latitude and altitude for a number of different geomagnetic storms. The relative roles of radiative cooling by NO and CO₂ will also be investigated, to see if there is any storm-dependent preference. Finally, the sensitivity of the NO cooling to geomagnetic processes suggests that near real time observations of NO emission may serve as a forecasting tool for space weather. Increases in NO infrared emissions are associated with energy deposition and heating of the atmosphere. Observations of NO emission may then identify regions in which atmospheric drag is increasing, and thus may be a tool for now casting of drag for space operations.