Influence of internal gravity waves on the thermosphere above the turbopause

• Antragsteller: Dr. Paul Hartogh
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Physik und Chemie der Atmosphäre
• Förderung: Förderung von 2009 bis 2014
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 128060505

The role of vertically propagating internal gravity waves (GWs) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) is well understood. However, the theoretical research of GW effects in the thermosphere and ionosphere (TI) is lacking despite the growing number of observational evidences of GWs activity in the upper thermosphere. The main objective of the proposed study is to investigate the effects of small- and medium scale GWs of lower atmospheric origin in the TI, and the role they play in the circulation above the turbopause. For that, our newly developed GW parameterization systematically accounting for breaking and dissipation in the thermosphere will be coupled to a comprehensive general circulation model (GCM) extending from the lower atmosphere into the upper thermosphere. In a series of simulations, we shall examine the dynamical, thermal, and constituent transport and mixing effects of GWs at all seasons, solar and geomagnetic activities. The influence on the TI of GWs from empirical broad spectra in the troposphere as well as from convective and meteorological sources will be explored. The major questions of this study are how much the thermosphere is controlled by the troposphere, and if (and when) there is a GW-mediated feedback from the TI to the MLT.

• DFG-Verfahren: Schwerpunktprogramme
• Teilprojekt zu: SPP 1176: Klima und Wetter des Systems Sonne/Erde
• Beteiligte Person: Dr. Alexander Medvedev