Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Zhou, Xu
• Yue, Xinan
• Ren, Zhipeng
• Liu, Yunbo
• Cai, Yihui
• Ding, Feng
• Wei, Yong

Titel

Impact of Anthropogenic Emission Changes on the Occurrence of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles

Ist Teil von

• Geophysical research letters, 2022-02, Vol.49 (3), p.n/a

Ort / Verlag

Washington: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Wiley Online Library

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• In this work, we examine the impact of increased anthropogenic emissions on equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) occurrence by modeling the growth rate of Rayleigh‐Taylor (R‐T) instability (γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$), which is closely related to EPB generation. Using the global coupled ionosphere‐thermosphere‐electrodynamics model‐institute of geology and geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences model, γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ is calculated under three different CO2 emission levels. As CO2 increases, γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ significantly increases at low altitudes (<∼260 km) and decreases at high altitudes (>∼320 km). In the altitudes in between, γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ increases (decreases) before (after) midnight. Longitudinal variability of the γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ change is manifested apparently above ∼280 km, while it is insignificant for low altitudes. Term analysis revealed that changes in the gravity term and the electric‐field term are the main causes and that the neutral‐wind term is insignificant. The investigation indicates that increased anthropogenic emissions can change EPB occurrence and, in turn, the radio‐communication system and therefore influence modern technological systems, which is expected to be more serious in the future. Plain Language Summary Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are ionospheric plasma irregularities that negatively influence radio propagation and even disrupt communication and navigation systems. In this work, we attempt to elucidate whether increased anthropogenic emissions impact EPB occurrence. To quantitatively characterize the EPB occurrence, the Rayleigh‐Taylor (R‐T) instability growth rate (γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$) defined by Sultan (1996), https://doi.org/10.1029/96ja00682 is used. based on a thermosphere‐ionosphere coupled model, global coupled ionosphere‐thermosphere‐electrodynamics model‐institute of geology and geophysics, chinese academy of sciences, γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ is calculated for three different CO2 emission levels. The results show that as CO2 increases, γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ significantly increases at low altitudes (<∼260 km) and decreases at high altitudes (>∼320 km). In the altitudes in between, γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ increases before midnight but decreases after midnight. Longitudinal variability of the γRT ${\gamma }_{RT}$ change is manifested apparently above ∼280 km but is insignificant at low altitudes. As a first step, this work revealed a possible link between long‐term anthropogenic climate change and short‐term space weather events that impact modern communication. Key Points Global Coupled Ionosphere‐Thermosphere‐Electrodynamics Model‐Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences simulation revealed that the equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) occurrence would increase below 260 km and decrease above 320 km as CO2 emissions increase The EPB occurrence change shows local‐time and longitudinal dependence that maximum generally occurred at American sector before midnight CO2 impacts on the electron density, conductivity, and electric fields cause the EPB occurrence change, while dynamic impacts are limited