About this Research Topic
Atmospheric waves excited in the lower atmosphere cause significant change in the dynamics of the middle and upper atmosphere by transporting and depositing energy therein. Gravity waves act as a seeding agent to cause ionospheric irregularities, e.g. equatorial spread F, plasma bubble and various kinds of plasma instabilities in the ionosphere. Due to breaking of these waves in the mesosphere, secondary wave generation takes place which propagates upward and impact the ionospheric electrodynamics. Tides are an important agent to cause the ionospheric E-region dynamo and determine the preferential wind direction. Planetary waves are responsible for global scale disturbances that affect the mesospheric thermal structure and ionospheric processes. Small, medium and large scale traveling ionospheric disturbances are complex outcomes of waves and instabilities. In addition to the lower atmospheric forcing, the geomagnetic storms driven by solar active conditions can affect the magnetosphere-ionosphere system notably through energetic charged particle precipitation. The present Research Topic aims to focus on the mesosphere-thermosphere neutral and electrodynamical processes and invites original articles utilizing ground and space-based observations as well as model/simulation studies.
New studies to address the processes of the mesosphere-thermosphere coupled system are welcome for publication in this issue, as well as observations from ground-based radar, lidar, airglow, GPS-TEC, ionosonde/digisonde and space-based data from the available satellites. Additionally, modeling and simulation studies to improve our understanding of the dynamics of this region are also expected. The important science problems, e. g., impact of sudden stratospheric warming on the mesosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system, effect of geomagnetic storm on the ionospheric plasma associated processes etc. are intended to be dealt with in this issue. A slew of neutral atmosphere and ionospheric signatures, e. g., mesospheric inversion layer, wave ducting, equatorial spread F, plasma instabilities, Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances (TID), ionospheric heating etc. are expected to be addressed. Important properties like daily, seasonal, interannual and long-term variability of the atmospheric atmosphere-ionosphere system can be investigated. We welcome for publication Original Research Papers as well as Data Report, Mini-Review and Review.
For more information on the kind of paper accepted, we address the author at this page.
Keywords: atmospheric waves and tides, ionospheric electrodynamics, geomagnetic disturbances, coupling of atmospheric regions, ground and space-based observations, modeling and simulation of middle and upper atmosphere
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