3.6 Equatorial Space Weather: SAMI3 Simulation Study of Gravity Wave Seeding of Equatorial Spread F

Monday, 7 January 2013: 5:15 PM
Room 16B (Austin Convention Center)
J.D. Huba, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC; and J. Krall and D. C. Fritts

The Naval Research Laboratory three-dimensional simulation code SAMI3/ESF is used to study the response of the post-sunset ionosphere to plane and circular gravity waves, including the effect of the vertical wind component of the wave. It is shown that vertical winds can play a crucial role in the seeding of equatorial spread F (ESF) by gravity waves. It is also shown that the strength of the coupling of the gravity wave to ESF increases with the vertical wavelength of the gravity wave. Wavelengths shorter than 100 km are ineffective for seeding ESF. Finally, it is demonstrated that an upward vertical background wind can suppress ESF.

Research supported by NRL Base Funds and NASA.

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