Climatologies of nighttime upper thermospheric winds measured by ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometers during geomagnetically quiet conditions: 2. High-latitude circulation and interplanetary magnetic field dependence

Emmert, J.T.; Hernandez, G.; Jarvis, M.J.; Niciejewski, R.J.; Sipler, D.P.; Vennerstrom, S.. 2006 Climatologies of nighttime upper thermospheric winds measured by ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometers during geomagnetically quiet conditions: 2. High-latitude circulation and interplanetary magnetic field dependence. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111 (A12), A12303. 10, pp. 10.1029/2006JA011949

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Abstract/Summary

We analyze upper thermospheric (∼250 km) nighttime horizontal neutral wind patterns, during geomagnetically quiet (Kp < 3) conditions, over the following locations: South Pole (90°S), Halley (76°S, 27°W), Millstone Hill (43°N, 72°W), Søndre Strømfjord (67°N, 51°W), and Thule (77°N, 68°W). We examine the wind patterns as a function of magnetic local time and latitude, solar cycle, day of year, and the dawn-dusk and north-south components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF B y and B z ). In magnetic coordinates, the quiet time high-latitude wind patterns are dominated by antisunward flow over the polar cap, with wind speeds that generally increase with increasing solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiation. The winds are generally stronger during equinox than during winter, particularly over the South Pole in the direction of eastern longitudes. IMF B y exerts a strong influence on the wind patterns, particularly in the midnight sector. During winter, B y positive winds around midnight in the northern (southern) hemisphere are directed more toward the dusk (dawn) sector, compared to corresponding B y negative winds; this behavior is consistent with the B y -dependence of statistical ionospheric convection patterns. The strength of the wind response to B y tends to increase with increasing solar EUV irradiation, roughly in proportion to the increased wind speeds. Quiet time B y effects are detectable at latitudes as low as that of Millstone Hill (magnetic latitude 53°N). Quiet time B z effects are negligible except over the magnetic polar cap station of Thule.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2006JA011949
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Sun Earth Connections
ISSN:	0148-0227
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Full text not available from this repository
NORA Subject Terms:	Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	06 Sep 2007 14:09 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/934

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