How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical Survey

Abstract The space hurricane is a polar cap auroral structure with strong flow shears and intense particle precipitation that can disturb the thermosphere under quiet geomagnetic conditions. Here the statistical characteristics of this interaction are surveyed using data from the Defense Meteorologi...

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Main Authors: Zhi‐Feng Xiu, Yu‐Zhang Ma, Qing‐He Zhang, Zan‐Yang Xing, Larry Lyons, Kjellmar Oksavik, Yong‐Liang Zhang, Marc Hairston, Yong Wang, Duan Zhang, Sheng Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115160
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author Zhi‐Feng Xiu
Yu‐Zhang Ma
Qing‐He Zhang
Zan‐Yang Xing
Larry Lyons
Kjellmar Oksavik
Yong‐Liang Zhang
Marc Hairston
Yong Wang
Duan Zhang
Sheng Lu
author_facet Zhi‐Feng Xiu
Yu‐Zhang Ma
Qing‐He Zhang
Zan‐Yang Xing
Larry Lyons
Kjellmar Oksavik
Yong‐Liang Zhang
Marc Hairston
Yong Wang
Duan Zhang
Sheng Lu
author_sort Zhi‐Feng Xiu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The space hurricane is a polar cap auroral structure with strong flow shears and intense particle precipitation that can disturb the thermosphere under quiet geomagnetic conditions. Here the statistical characteristics of this interaction are surveyed using data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and Gravity Field and Steady‐State Ocean Circulation Explorer satellites. The results confirm that space hurricanes modify the ion and neutral circulation in the polar cap through enhanced electric fields. Local precipitation, particularly >500 eV electrons, which raises the Pedersen conductance, leads to enhanced Joule heating and the generation of gravity waves. Electric fields play a leading role on the dawn side of the space hurricane. Gravity waves are also mainly located on the dawnside of the space hurricane, with a maximum vertical wind of 37 m/s and a 17% neutral density disturbance. These findings augment our awareness of magnetosphere‐polar ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling under quiet northward IMF conditions.
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issn 0094-8276
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-77b714d2e7154281954b0ee5e8fc65dc2025-08-20T03:44:25ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01528n/an/a10.1029/2025GL115160How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical SurveyZhi‐Feng Xiu0Yu‐Zhang Ma1Qing‐He Zhang2Zan‐Yang Xing3Larry Lyons4Kjellmar Oksavik5Yong‐Liang Zhang6Marc Hairston7Yong Wang8Duan Zhang9Sheng Lu10Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar‐Terrestrial Environment Institute of Space Sciences Shandong University Weihai ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar‐Terrestrial Environment Institute of Space Sciences Shandong University Weihai ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar‐Terrestrial Environment Institute of Space Sciences Shandong University Weihai ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar‐Terrestrial Environment Institute of Space Sciences Shandong University Weihai ChinaDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California Los Angeles CA USADepartment of Physics and Technology University of Bergen Bergen NorwayThe Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel MD USAWilliam B Hanson Center for Space Sciences University of Texas at Dallas Richardson TX USAShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar‐Terrestrial Environment Institute of Space Sciences Shandong University Weihai ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Weather National Space Science Center Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar‐Terrestrial Environment Institute of Space Sciences Shandong University Weihai ChinaAbstract The space hurricane is a polar cap auroral structure with strong flow shears and intense particle precipitation that can disturb the thermosphere under quiet geomagnetic conditions. Here the statistical characteristics of this interaction are surveyed using data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and Gravity Field and Steady‐State Ocean Circulation Explorer satellites. The results confirm that space hurricanes modify the ion and neutral circulation in the polar cap through enhanced electric fields. Local precipitation, particularly >500 eV electrons, which raises the Pedersen conductance, leads to enhanced Joule heating and the generation of gravity waves. Electric fields play a leading role on the dawn side of the space hurricane. Gravity waves are also mainly located on the dawnside of the space hurricane, with a maximum vertical wind of 37 m/s and a 17% neutral density disturbance. These findings augment our awareness of magnetosphere‐polar ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling under quiet northward IMF conditions.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115160space hurricanepolar ionosphere‐thermosphere couplinggravity waves
spellingShingle Zhi‐Feng Xiu
Yu‐Zhang Ma
Qing‐He Zhang
Zan‐Yang Xing
Larry Lyons
Kjellmar Oksavik
Yong‐Liang Zhang
Marc Hairston
Yong Wang
Duan Zhang
Sheng Lu
How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical Survey
Geophysical Research Letters
space hurricane
polar ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling
gravity waves
title How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical Survey
title_full How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical Survey
title_fullStr How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical Survey
title_full_unstemmed How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical Survey
title_short How Do Space Hurricanes Disturb the Polar Thermosphere: A Statistical Survey
title_sort how do space hurricanes disturb the polar thermosphere a statistical survey
topic space hurricane
polar ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling
gravity waves
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115160
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