CEDAR: Vertical Coupling in the Atmosphere-Ionosphere System by Gravity Waves

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Lower atmospheric small-scale gravity waves (GWs) play a crucial role in determining the dynamical and thermal structure of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. This project will address how GWs influence the vertical coupling in the atmosphere-ionosphere in terms of energy and momentum budget, variability, thermospheric composition, and ionospheric electron density distribution. Two comprehensive GCMs will be coupled and used to simulate the atmosphere-ionosphere from the tropopause to the topside ionosphere. A suite of available upper atmosphere measurements, such as, from the TIMED satellite, SuperDARN, and Fabry-Perot Interferometers, will be used to validate the model fields. Specific topics to be addressed are: (1) GW effects on the circulation and composition of the thermosphere and on the distribution of ionospheric electron density; (2) The influence of gravity waves in shaping the variability of the high-latitude ionosphere, in both geomagnetically quiet periods and those of higher magnetospheric variability, (3) The impact of sudden stratospheric warming on the upward propagation of GWs and the resulting changes in GW dynamical, thermal, and compositional effects in various geomagnetic and solar conditions; (4) The direct GW propagation from the lower atmosphere during atmospheric and geomagnetic transient processes as a possible link between meteorological and space weather processes.