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Ionospheric acoustic and gravity waves associated with midlatitude thunderstorms
Author(s) -
Lay Erin H.,
Shao XuanMin,
Kendrick Alexander K.,
Carrano Charles S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/2015ja021334
Subject(s) - thunderstorm , ionosphere , gravity wave , mesoscale meteorology , geology , middle latitudes , storm , gravitational wave , amplitude , geophysics , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , climatology , physics , astronomy , oceanography , quantum mechanics
Acoustic waves with periods of 2–4 min and gravity waves with periods of 6–16 min have been detected at ionospheric heights (250–350 km) using GPS total electron content measurements. The area disturbed by these waves and the wave amplitudes have been associated with underlying thunderstorm activity. A statistical study comparing Next Generation Weather Radar thunderstorm measurements with ionospheric acoustic and gravity waves in the midlatitude U.S. Great Plains region was performed for the time period of May–July 2005. An increase of ionospheric acoustic wave disturbed area and amplitude is primarily associated with large thunderstorms (mesoscale convective systems). Ionospheric gravity wave disturbed area and amplitude scale with thunderstorm activity, with even small storms (i.e., individual storm cells) producing an increase of gravity waves.