Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming

Abstract Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are large‐scale phenomena characterized by dramatic dynamic disruptions in the stratospheric winter polar regions. Previous studies, especially those employing whole atmosphere models, indicate that SSWs have strong impacts on the circulation of the meso...

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Main Authors: Federico Gasperini, McArthur Jones Jr, Brian J. Harding, Thomas J. Immel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-04-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102579
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author Federico Gasperini
McArthur Jones Jr
Brian J. Harding
Thomas J. Immel
author_facet Federico Gasperini
McArthur Jones Jr
Brian J. Harding
Thomas J. Immel
author_sort Federico Gasperini
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are large‐scale phenomena characterized by dramatic dynamic disruptions in the stratospheric winter polar regions. Previous studies, especially those employing whole atmosphere models, indicate that SSWs have strong impacts on the circulation of the mesosphere lower thermosphere (MLT) and drive a reversal in the mean meridional circulation (MMC) near 90–125 km altitude. However, the robustness of these effects and the roles of SSW‐induced changes in global‐scale wave activity to drive the reversal have been difficult to observe simultaneously. This work employs horizontal lower thermospheric (∼93–106 km altitude) winds near 10°S‐40°N latitude from the Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging instrument onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) to present observational evidence of a prominent MLT MMC reversal associated with the January 2021 major SSW event and to demonstrate connections to semidiurnal tidal activity and possible associations with a ∼3‐day ultra‐fast Kevin wave.
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-dc3e2a079df4467d9322f8a271fca20d2025-08-20T02:04:21ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072023-04-01507n/an/a10.1029/2022GL102579Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric WarmingFederico Gasperini0McArthur Jones Jr1Brian J. Harding2Thomas J. Immel3Orion Space Solutions Louisville CO USASpace Science Division U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Washington DC USASpace Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley CA USASpace Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley CA USAAbstract Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are large‐scale phenomena characterized by dramatic dynamic disruptions in the stratospheric winter polar regions. Previous studies, especially those employing whole atmosphere models, indicate that SSWs have strong impacts on the circulation of the mesosphere lower thermosphere (MLT) and drive a reversal in the mean meridional circulation (MMC) near 90–125 km altitude. However, the robustness of these effects and the roles of SSW‐induced changes in global‐scale wave activity to drive the reversal have been difficult to observe simultaneously. This work employs horizontal lower thermospheric (∼93–106 km altitude) winds near 10°S‐40°N latitude from the Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging instrument onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) to present observational evidence of a prominent MLT MMC reversal associated with the January 2021 major SSW event and to demonstrate connections to semidiurnal tidal activity and possible associations with a ∼3‐day ultra‐fast Kevin wave.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102579sudden stratospheric warmingsthermosphereICONMIGHTImean circulationmesosphere‐lower‐thermosphere
spellingShingle Federico Gasperini
McArthur Jones Jr
Brian J. Harding
Thomas J. Immel
Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming
Geophysical Research Letters
sudden stratospheric warmings
thermosphere
ICON
MIGHTI
mean circulation
mesosphere‐lower‐thermosphere
title Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming
title_full Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming
title_fullStr Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming
title_full_unstemmed Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming
title_short Direct Observational Evidence of Altered Mesosphere Lower Thermosphere Mean Circulation From a Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming
title_sort direct observational evidence of altered mesosphere lower thermosphere mean circulation from a major sudden stratospheric warming
topic sudden stratospheric warmings
thermosphere
ICON
MIGHTI
mean circulation
mesosphere‐lower‐thermosphere
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102579
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