Determining the origin of tidal oscillations in the ionospheric
transition region with EISCAT radar and global simulation data
Abstract
Solar and atmospheric variability influences the ionosphere, causing
critical impacts on satellite and ground based infrastructure.
Determining the dominant forcing mechanisms for ionosphere variability
is important for prediction and mitigation of these threats. However,
this is a challenging task due to the complexity of solar-terrestrial
coupling processes. At high latitudes, diurnal and semidiurnal
variations of temperature and neutral wind velocity can be forced from
either below (lower atmosphere waves) or from above (geomagnetic and
in-situ solar forcing). We analyse measurements from the incoherent
scatter radar (ISR) facility operated by the European Incoherent Scatter
Scientific Association (EISCAT). They are complemented by meteor radar
data and compared to global circulation models. Experimental and model
data both indicate the existence of strong semidiurnal oscillations in a
two-band structure at altitudes $\lesssim110$ km and
$\gtrsim130$ km, respectively. Analysis of the phase
progressions suggests the upper band to be forced
\textit{in situ} while the lower band corresponds to
upwards propagating tides from lower atmosphere. These results show that
the actual transition of tides in the altitude region between 90 and 130
km is more complex than described so far.