Modeling the Day-to-Day Variability of Midnight Equatorial Plasma
Bubbles with SAMI3/WACCM-X
Abstract
It is well-known that equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are highly
correlated to the post-sunset rise of the ionosphere on a climatological
basis. However, when proceeding to the daily EPB development, what
controls the day-to-day/longitudinal variability of EPBs remains a
puzzle. In this study, we investigate the underlying physics responsible
for the day-to-day/longitudinal variability of EPBs using the Sami3 is A
Model of the Ionosphere (SAMI3) and the Whole Atmosphere Community
Climate Model with thermosphere-ionosphere eXtension (WACCM-X).
Simulation results on October 20, 22, and 24, 2020 were presented.
SAMI3/WACCM-X self-consistently generated midnight EPBs on October 20
and 24, displaying irregular and regular spatial distributions,
respectively. However, EPBs are absent on October 22. We investigate the
role of gravity waves on upwelling growth and EPB development and
discuss how gravity waves contribute to the distributions of EPBs. Of
particular significance is that we found the westward wind associated
with solar terminator waves and gravity waves causes midnight vertical
drift enhancement and collisional shear instability, which provides
conditions favorable for upwelling growth and EPB development. The
converging and diverging winds associated with solar terminator waves
and midnight temperature maximum also affect the longitudinal
distribution of EPBs. The absence of EPBs on October 22 is related to
the weak upward drift induced by weak westward wind associated with
solar terminator waves.