Mechanisms Underlying the Changes in Sporadic E Layers During Sudden Stratospheric Warming

Abstract

During sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events, significant modifications occur, not only in the neutral atmosphere, but also in the ionosphere. Specifically, sporadic E layers in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere regions significantly disrupt satellite communication. Although research has frequently focused on ionospheric alterations during SSW events, detailed studies on sporadic E layers remain limited. Examining these variations during SSW events could enhance our understanding of the interaction mechanisms between the ionosphere and the neutral atmosphere, and provide insights into the patterns of sporadic E layer alterations. This study analyzed the behavior of sporadic E layers during the 2008/2009 winter SSW period using data from three Japanese stations and satellite observations. The principal findings included the following: (1) The enhancement in the critical frequency of the sporadic E layers was most notable following the transition from easterly to westerly winds at 60° N at a 10 hPa altitude, accompanied by quasi 6-day and quasi 16-day oscillations in frequency. (2) The daily average zonal and meridional wind speeds in the MLT region also exhibited quasi 6-day and quasi 16-day oscillations, aligning with the observed periodicities in the critical frequency of the sporadic E layers. (3) Planetary waves were shown to modulate the amplitude of diurnal and semidiurnal tides, influencing the sporadic E layers. Furthermore, a wavelet analysis of foEs data with a time resolution of 0.25 h demonstrated that planetary waves also modulate the frequency of diurnal tides, thereby affecting the sporadic E layers. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the formation mechanisms and prediction of sporadic E layer behavior.

Keywords

• sudden stratospheric warming
• sporadic E layers
• planetary waves