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Signatures of ultra fast Kelvin waves in the equatorial middle atmosphere and ionosphere
Author(s) -
Takahashi H.,
Wrasse C. M.,
Fechine J.,
Pancheva D.,
Abdu M. A.,
Batista I. S.,
Lima L. M.,
Batista P. P.,
Clemesha B. R.,
Schuch N. J.,
Shiokawa K.,
Gobbi D.,
Mlynczak M. G.,
Russell J. M.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1029/2007gl029612
Subject(s) - ionosphere , stratosphere , kelvin wave , quasi biennial oscillation , mesosphere , atmosphere (unit) , thermosphere , geology , meteor (satellite) , oscillation (cell signaling) , atmospheric sciences , depth sounding , geophysics , climatology , meteorology , physics , oceanography , biology , genetics
In the equatorial atmosphere, oscillations with periods of 3 to 4 days have been observed in the meteor radar zonal wind at Cariri (7.4°S, 36.5°W), in the ionospheric minimum virtual height h'F and the maximum critical frequency foF2 at Fortaleza (3.9°S, 38.4°W), and in the TIMED/SABER satellite temperature data in the stratosphere‐mesosphere. Wavelet analyses of these time series reveal that the 3–4‐day oscillation was observed for all of these data during the period from March 1 to 11, 2005. From the characteristics of the downward phase propagation (wavelength of ∼40 km), longitudinal and latitudinal extension, we conclude that this oscillation must be a 3.5–day Ultra Fast Kelvin (UFK) wave. This is the first report of clear evidence of propagation of a UFK wave from the stratosphere to the ionosphere. The UFK wave could have an important role in the day‐to‐day variability of the equatorial ionosphere evening uplift.