Open AccessModeling the whole atmosphere response to solar cycle changes in radiative and geomagnetic forcing
Author(s) -
Marsh D. R.,
Garcia R. R.,
Kinnison D. E.,
Boville B. A.,
Sassi F.,
Solomon S. C.,
Matthes K.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006jd008306
Subject(s) - thermosphere , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere (unit) , environmental science , solar cycle , solar minimum , solar maximum , forcing (mathematics) , troposphere , earth's magnetic field , climate model , climatology , physics , meteorology , climate change , ionosphere , geophysics , geology , solar wind , oceanography , quantum mechanics , magnetic field
The NCAR Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, version 3 (WACCM3), is used to study the atmospheric response from the surface to the lower thermosphere to changes in solar and geomagnetic forcing over the 11‐year solar cycle. WACCM3 is a general circulation model that incorporates interactive chemistry that solves for both neutral and ion species. Energy inputs include solar radiation and energetic particles, which vary significantly over the solar cycle. This paper presents a comparison of simulations for solar cycle maximum and solar cycle minimum conditions. Changes in composition and dynamical variables are clearly seen in the middle and upper atmosphere, and these in turn affect terms in the energy budget. Generally good agreement is found between the model response and that derived from satellite observations, although significant differences remain. A small but statistically significant response is predicted in tropospheric winds and temperatures which is consistent with signals observed in reanalysis data sets.