Tidally-Driven Intra-Seasonal Oscillations in the Thermosphere from
TIEGCM-ICON and Connections to the Madden-Julian Oscillation
Abstract
Recent evidence has revealed that strong coupling between the lower
atmosphere and the thermosphere ($>$100 km) occurs on
intra-seasonal (IS) timescales (~30-90 days). The
Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a key source of IS variability in
tropical convection and circulation, influences the generation and
propagation of atmospheric tides and is believed to be a significant
driver of thermospheric IS oscillations (ISOs). However, limited
satellite observations in the ‘thermospheric gap’ (100-300 km) and
challenges faced by numerical models in characterizing this region have
hindered a comprehensive understanding of this connection. This study
utilizes an ICON-adapted version of the Thermosphere Ionosphere
Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM), incorporating lower
boundary tides from Michelson Interferometer for Global High-resolution
Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) observations, to quantify the impact of
the upward-propagating tidal spectrum on thermospheric ISOs and
elucidate connections to the MJO. Thermospheric zonal and diurnal mean
zonal winds exhibit prominent (~20 m/s) tidally-driven
ISOs throughout 2020-2021, largest at low latitudes
($\pm$30$^\circ$) near 110-150 km
altitude. Correlation analyses (r>0.6) confirm a robust
connection between thermospheric ISOs, tides, and the MJO. Additionally,
Hovmoller diagrams show eastward tidal propagation consistent with MJO
and concurrent Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission
Radiometry (SABER) observations. This study demonstrates that vertically
propagating tides play a crucial role in linking IS variability from the
lower atmosphere to the thermosphere, with the MJO identified as a
primary driver of this whole-atmosphere teleconnection. Understanding
these connections is vital for advancing our knowledge in space physics,
particularly regarding the dynamics of the upper atmosphere and
ionosphere.