Missing driver in the Sun–Earth connection from energetic electron precipitation impacts mesospheric ozone

Andersson, M. E.; Verronen, P. T.; Rodger, C. J.; Clilverd, M. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7388-1529; Seppälä, A.. 2014 Missing driver in the Sun–Earth connection from energetic electron precipitation impacts mesospheric ozone. Nature Communications, 5, 5197. 5, pp. 10.1038/ncomms6197

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Abstract/Summary

Energetic electron precipitation (EEP) from the Earth’s outer radiation belt continuously affects the chemical composition of the polar mesosphere. EEP can contribute to catalytic ozone loss in the mesosphere through ionization and enhanced production of odd hydrogen. However, the long-term mesospheric ozone variability caused by EEP has not been quantified or confirmed to date. Here we show, using observations from three different satellite instruments, that EEP events strongly affect ozone at 60–80 km, leading to extremely large (up to 90%) short-term ozone depletion. This impact is comparable to that of large, but much less frequent, solar proton events. On solar cycle timescales, we find that EEP causes ozone variations of up to 34% at 70–80 km. With such a magnitude, it is reasonable to suspect that EEP could be an important part of solar influence on the atmosphere and climate system

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/ncomms6197
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Climate
ISSN:	2041-1723
Date made live:	21 Oct 2014 10:06 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508649

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