The ionospheric response during the 2013 stratospheric sudden warming over the East Asia region

During the 2013 SSW, ionospheric disturbances were observed at eighteen stations on three meridional chains of 100 degrees E, 110 degrees E and 120 degrees E ranging from 19.03 degrees N to 49.21 degrees N at latitudes over the East Asia region. The total electron content (TEC) response showed evident semidiurnal disturbances with TEC enhancement in the morning and depletion in the afternoon. The maximum TEC increased by more than 220 % along the 120 degrees E longitude. In addition, the semidiurnal disturbance of the TEC was enhanced and indicated evident latitudinal and longitudinal dependence. The wavelet spectra of semidiurnal disturbance in TEC presented quasi-16-day planetary wave-like oscillations at middle latitudes and quasi-10-day planetary wave-like oscillations near Sanya at low latitudes. Moreover, the zonal winds and meridional winds at altitudes of 92 km and 96 km showed quasi-16-day planetary waves at the Mohe station located at middle latitudes and quasi-10-day planetary waves at the Sanya station located at low latitudes, which maybe relate to the semidiurnal disturbance of the TEC. In particular, the 12hrs oscillation of the TEC showed a quasi-16-day periodic component at middle latitudes and a quasi-10- day periodic component at low latitudes, indicating that the modulated semidiurnal tides may transmit these 10-day and 16-day planetary wave-like oscillations to the ionosphere. The coupling between the atmosphere and ionosphere may be strengthened by quasi-16- day waves at middle latitudes and quasi-10-day waves at low latitudes (near Sanya). This finding can further confirm the PW-tide interaction theory during the 2013 SSW event, and it is of significance in the middle and low latitude ionospheric response to SSW. (c) 2024 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.