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Tidal‐induced net transport effects on the oxygen distribution in the thermosphere
Author(s) -
Jones M.,
Forbes J. M.,
Hagan M. E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl060698
Subject(s) - thermosphere , atmospheric tide , zonal and meridional , atmospheric sciences , diffusion , ionosphere , environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , physics , climatology , geology , meteorology , geophysics , thermodynamics
Through a series of numerical experiments performed with the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Mesosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model, we evaluate a new mechanism by which the dissipation of vertically propagating tides acts to change the O distribution in the thermosphere. Jones et al. (2014) proposed that the tides induced a net transport of constituents themselves, in addition to the transport provided by the mean circulation induced by the dissipation of tides. Through diagnosis of the continuity equation for [O], our results show that the net meridional and vertical transport of O induced by the tides appreciably contributes to [O] changes in the lower thermosphere. Combined with recombination, these transport mechanisms drive a net reduction in [O] of ∼25% that is transmitted to higher altitudes by molecular diffusion. The migrating diurnal tide appears to be the main driver of the [O] variations during September.