Observations of large-scale thermospheric waves during geomagnetic storms

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA083iA12p05531· OSTI ID:6325139

Hernandez, G; Roble, R G

Nighttime thermospheric winds and temperatures have been measured over Fritz Peak Observatory, Colorado (39.9/sup 0/N, 105.5/sup 0/W), with a high-resolution Fabry-Perot spectrometer. The winds and temperatures are obtained from the Doppler shifts and line profiles of the (OI) 15,867 K (6300 A) line emission. Measurements made during three large geomagnetic storms, when Kp exceeded 8, have shown large-scale thermospheric waves that are probably generated by impulsive heating at high latitudes. These waves are observed to propagate equatorward over the observatory, and on one occasion a poleward traveling disturbance was observed several hours later. The characteristic features of the observed waves during the three storm periods are described, and the global properties of these waves are examined by using a numerical model of the zonally symmetric thermosphere. The model calculations show reasonable agreement with the observations over Fritz Peak Observatory, thus enabling an estimate to be made of the high-latitude energy input that launched the waves.

• Research Organization: Fritz Peak Observatory Aeronomy Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80303
• OSTI ID: 6325139
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 83:A12; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DATA
DATA FORMS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
ISOLATED VALUES
MAGNETIC STORMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL DATA
SUDDEN COMMENCEMENTS
THERMOSPHERE
WAVE PROPAGATION