First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over Arecibo

Abstract We present an investigation of a prominent 4.8‐hr tidal wave observed at altitudes between 260 and 500 km, using data collected by the Arecibo incoherent scatter radar during March 17–20, 2015. Within this altitude range, the 4.8‐hr tide exhibits amplitudes of approximately 25 m/s, surpassi...

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Main Authors: Yun Gong, Shaodong Zhang, Qihou Zhou, Xinkun Chen, Zheng Ma, Yanlin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115315
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author Yun Gong
Shaodong Zhang
Qihou Zhou
Xinkun Chen
Zheng Ma
Yanlin Li
author_facet Yun Gong
Shaodong Zhang
Qihou Zhou
Xinkun Chen
Zheng Ma
Yanlin Li
author_sort Yun Gong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We present an investigation of a prominent 4.8‐hr tidal wave observed at altitudes between 260 and 500 km, using data collected by the Arecibo incoherent scatter radar during March 17–20, 2015. Within this altitude range, the 4.8‐hr tide exhibits amplitudes of approximately 25 m/s, surpassing the semidiurnal tide and being twice as large as the diurnal tide. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a strong 4.8‐hr tide. Notably, two consecutive midnight ionospheric collapses occurred on the night of March 17–18. Our analysis reveals that both the 4.8‐hr tide in the meridional wind and the zonal electric field are crucial to the generation the first collapse, while the former playing a more important role in the formation of the second collapse. The generation of the 4.8‐hr tide and the variability of the zonal electric field are likely associated with the effects of a major geomagnetic storm.
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language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-85d56415a3e344e08a367753a98f9fa62025-08-20T03:40:44ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-08-015215n/an/a10.1029/2025GL115315First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over AreciboYun Gong0Shaodong Zhang1Qihou Zhou2Xinkun Chen3Zheng Ma4Yanlin Li5School of Earth and Space Science and Technology Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaElectrical and Computer Engineering Department Miami University Oxford OH USASchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaElectrical and Computer Engineering Department Miami University Oxford OH USAAbstract We present an investigation of a prominent 4.8‐hr tidal wave observed at altitudes between 260 and 500 km, using data collected by the Arecibo incoherent scatter radar during March 17–20, 2015. Within this altitude range, the 4.8‐hr tide exhibits amplitudes of approximately 25 m/s, surpassing the semidiurnal tide and being twice as large as the diurnal tide. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a strong 4.8‐hr tide. Notably, two consecutive midnight ionospheric collapses occurred on the night of March 17–18. Our analysis reveals that both the 4.8‐hr tide in the meridional wind and the zonal electric field are crucial to the generation the first collapse, while the former playing a more important role in the formation of the second collapse. The generation of the 4.8‐hr tide and the variability of the zonal electric field are likely associated with the effects of a major geomagnetic storm.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115315tidal wavesthermosphereincoherent scatter radar
spellingShingle Yun Gong
Shaodong Zhang
Qihou Zhou
Xinkun Chen
Zheng Ma
Yanlin Li
First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over Arecibo
Geophysical Research Letters
tidal waves
thermosphere
incoherent scatter radar
title First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over Arecibo
title_full First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over Arecibo
title_fullStr First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over Arecibo
title_full_unstemmed First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over Arecibo
title_short First Observation of a Strong Thermospheric 4.8‐Hour Tide and Its Impact on the Ionosphere Over Arecibo
title_sort first observation of a strong thermospheric 4 8 hour tide and its impact on the ionosphere over arecibo
topic tidal waves
thermosphere
incoherent scatter radar
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115315
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AT shaodongzhang firstobservationofastrongthermospheric48hourtideanditsimpactontheionosphereoverarecibo
AT qihouzhou firstobservationofastrongthermospheric48hourtideanditsimpactontheionosphereoverarecibo
AT xinkunchen firstobservationofastrongthermospheric48hourtideanditsimpactontheionosphereoverarecibo
AT zhengma firstobservationofastrongthermospheric48hourtideanditsimpactontheionosphereoverarecibo
AT yanlinli firstobservationofastrongthermospheric48hourtideanditsimpactontheionosphereoverarecibo