The Statitical and Case studies of the Thermospheric Enhanced Sodium Layers (TeSLs)

Abstract:

We report the thermospheric enhanced sodium layers (TeSLs) observed at low and middle latitude region.

Based on the statistical results of the TeSLs observed at Hainan, China (20.0N), a low latitude region, during the year 2011 - 2012, we found a good correlation between the TeSLs and the ionospheric counterparts in E region. For nine of the total 10 TeSLs, which were observed by a sodium lidar, the adjacent ionospheric observations from the COSMIC radio occultation and ionosondes exhibited abrupt perturbations in the RO SNR profiles and spread Es in the ionograms, respectively, indicating the existence of large-scale complex Es. Further, all the TeSLs, which had the co-observations by a VHF radar located nearby, were accompanied by the E region field-aligned irregularity (FAI) echoes. And seven FAIs (7/10) showed evident upwelling structure covering altitudes of 100 -- 140 km, well correlated with the development of the TeSLs. The occurrence of the large-scale complex Es possibly implies the direct altitude modulation of the horizontal Es layers by the atmospheric waves or the strong eastward polarization electric fields, which contribute the formation the FAI structures. In the course of the altitude modulation of the Es layers, sufficient ions (including sodium ions) and electrons could be accumulated in the upper altitude during the upward motion of the FAI plasma and benefits the formation of TeSLs through the chemical reaction.

Two TeSL cases observed at Fort Collins, CO (20.0N), a middle latitude region, during day of year (DOY) 177 - 179 and DOY 191 during the year 2003. The enhanced sodium density in the lower thermospheric region provided the simultaneous observations for the horizontal wind and temperature. The TeSLs observed at Fort Collins had the similar feathers, i.e., they appeared at approximately 110 km and propagated with a downward speed of 1.5 - 2.5 km/hr, meanwhile, the higher temperature with approximately 50K increase and strong horizontal wind shear were accompanied with the TeSLs. Further investigation indicated that the TeSLs might be caused mainly by the ions vertical convergence due to horizontal wind-shear induced by the semi-diurnal tides, and the temperature enhancement at the altitude of 110 km had little contributions to the formation of TeSLs.