The Ionospheric response During 2013 Stratospheric Sudden Warming over
East Asia Region
Abstract
Ionospheric response to sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) are not well
understood. During the 2013 SSW, ionospheric disturbances were observed
in eighteen stations on three meridional chains of 100°E, 110°E and
120°E ranging from 19.03°N to 49.21°N at latitudes over East Asia
region. The TEC response showed evident semi-diurnal disturbance that
enhancement in the morning and depletion in the afternoon. The maximum
TEC increased by more than 220% on the chain 120°E. In addition, the
semi-diurnal disturbance of TEC were enhanced and indicated evident
latitudinal and longitudinal dependence. The wavelet spectra of
semi-diurnal disturbance in TEC presented quasi-16 day planetary
wave-like oscillations at middle latitudes and quasi-10 day planetary
wave-like oscillations at low latitudes. Meanwhile, the zonal winds and
meridional winds at altitudes of 92-100 km showed quasi-16 day planetary
wave at Mohe located middle latitude and quasi-10 day planetary wave at
Sanya located low latitude, which are agree with semi-diurnal
disturbance of TEC. Especially, the 12-hour component of TEC showed a
quasi-16 day periodic component at middle latitude and a quasi-10 day
periodic component at low latitude, indicating that the modulated
semi-diurnal tides may transmit these 10 day and 16 day planetary
wave-like oscillations to the ionosphere. The coupling between the
atmosphere and ionosphere may be strengthened by the quasi-16 day waves
at middle latitude and quasi-10 day waves at low latitude. This can
further confirm the PW-tide interaction theory during the 2013 SSW and
it is of significance in the middle and low latitude ionospheric
response to SSW.