What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine latitudinal variations in low-latitude thermospheric neutral temperature and zonal winds during periods of high solar activity.

July 1, 1991Geophysical Research Letters

An equatorial temperature and wind anomaly (ETWA)

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Authors

RRR. RaghavaraoPhysical Research Laboratory LWL. E. WhartonCalifornia Polytechnic State University NSN. W. SpencerGoddard Space Flight Center

Discussion

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Implication

Satellite data analysis reveals coupled equatorial temperature and zonal wind anomalies during high solar activity, indicating thermospheric regulation driven by ion-neutral drag.

Key Points

To examine latitudinal variations in low-latitude thermospheric neutral temperature and zonal winds during periods of high solar activity.
Analyzed in situ measurements from the Wind and Temperature Spectrometer (WATS) and Langmuir Probe (LP) on board the Dynamic Explorer-2 (DE-2) satellite.
Identified an equatorial temperature and wind anomaly (ETWA) characterized by a zonal wind maximum and a bowl-shaped temperature minimum at the dip equator, flanked by wind minima and temperature maxima at roughly ±25 degrees latitude.
Observed that wind and temperature peaks align with the crests and troughs of the equatorial ionization anomaly, frequently exhibiting differences exceeding 100 m/s in zonal wind speed and 100 K in gas temperature.

Cite This Study

Raghavarao et al. (1991) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a84143bac510c864ff2f41f https://doi.org/10.1029/91gl01561

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Implication

Satellite data analysis reveals coupled equatorial temperature and zonal wind anomalies during high solar activity, indicating thermospheric regulation driven by ion-neutral drag.

An equatorial temperature and wind anomaly (ETWA)

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

An equatorial temperature and wind anomaly (ETWA)

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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