Direct Observation of the Space Hurricane Disturbed Polar Thermosphere

Abstract

Abstract The space hurricane is a three‐dimensional magnetic vortex structure with strong flow shears and electron precipitation in the polar cap. This study investigates for the first time how a space hurricane disturbs the polar thermosphere. During the formation and development of the space hurricane, the directional reversal of the horizontal neutral wind and the plasma convection will both be relocated from the poleward auroral oval boundary to the edge of the space hurricane, but the neutral wind responds slower compared to the plasma convection. Strong flow shears in the space hurricane causes enhanced Joule heating in the polar cap, which heats the thermosphere and triggers Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs). Statistical results reveal that significant AGWs mainly are located on the dawnside of the space hurricane, suggesting that the space hurricane plays a significant role in ion‐neutral coupling and generation of polar cap AGWs.

Keywords

• space hurricane
• polar ionosphere
• aurora
• ion‐neutral coupling
• atmospheric gravity waves