Impacts of E‐Region Neutral Wind Shear on Equatorial Plasma Bubbles: SAMI3 Simulations Including Metal Ions

The vertical shear of horizontal neutral winds plays an important role in forming dense metallic layers in the E region. Previous studies suggest that metal ion layers may inhibit equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) development by enhancing E‐region Pedersen conductivity. In this study, we investigate the role of large E‐region neutral wind shears in EPB formation by implementing synthetic shears in the global ionosphere‐thermosphere model and using its neutral outputs to drive Sami3 is Also a Model of the Ionosphere (SAMI3). The ionospheric response is examined as a function of shear configuration, direction, altitude, and timing. The findings reveal that the alignment direction of the horizontal shear band influences EPB development by determining the magnitude of the induced zonal polarization electric field. Regarding wind shear direction and altitude, lower E‐region zonal wind shear dominates over meridional and upper E‐region shears. These differences result from variations in their efficiency in modifying vertical cross‐field current gradients, which in turn affect the polarization electric field and plasma density distribution, thereby influencing plasma bubble growth. In addition, the shear effect on EPBs is timing dependent, with strong suppression during the early growth phase but little impact during the decay phase. All shear simulations include metal ions, with comparison experiments without metal ions showing that metal ion enhanced conductance strongly suppresses EPBs, consistent with prior studies. This study highlights the previously unexplored influence of localized E‐region wind shears on EPBs, improving our understanding of the interaction between plasma electrodynamics and neutral dynamics in the ionosphere‐thermosphere system.