Wave Dynamical Coupling of Atmospheres During Sudden Stratospheric Warming Events

Abstract:

The electrodynamic and neutral dynamic behavior of the low-latitude upper atmosphere during sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events has been investigated. The equatorial electrojet (EEJ) strength and the total electron content (TEC) data from low latitudes, over Indian longitudes, during the mid-winter season in the years 2005 to 2013 are used in this study. Five major and three minor SSW events occurred in the observation duration, wherein the solar activity had varied from minimum (almost no sunspots) to mini-maximum (approximately 50 sunspots of the solar cycle 24). Spectral powers of the quasi-16-day waves in the EEJ and the TEC have been found to be dominant and varying with solar activity and SSW strengths. Specifically, the spectral powers of quasi-16-day type variations during the three dramatic strong SSW events in the years 2006, 2009, and 2013 were found to be very high in comparison with those of other years. For these major events, the amplitudes of the semi-diurnal tides and quasi-16-day waves were found to be highly correlated and were maximum around the peak of SSW, suggesting a strong interaction between the two waves. However, this correlation was poor and the quasi-16-day spectral power was low for the minor events. A strong vertical coupling of atmospheres was noted in spite of the solar activity being relatively higher during 2013, which was, however, explained to be due to the occurrence of a strong SSW event. These results suggest that the wave dynamical vertical coupling of atmospheres is stronger during strong major SSW events and weaker during minor events. Also, SSW events play an important role in enabling the upward coupling of atmospheres even during high solar activity.