HR: 17:45h
AN: SA14A-08    [Abstracts]
TI: A Statistical Study of Mid-Latitude Ionospheric Disturbances Coincident with Large Tropospheric Storms
AU: * Bishop, R L
EM: Rebecca.L.Bishop@aero.org
AF: The Aerospace Corporation, 2350 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
AU: Bullett, T
EM: bullett@plh.af.mil
AF: AFRL, 29 Randolph Road, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731
AU: Earle, G D
EM: earle@utdallas.edu
AF: University of Texas at Dallas, P.O. Box 830688 M/S FO2.2, Richardson, TX 75083
AU: Straus, P
EM: Paul.Straus@aero.org
AF: The Aerospace Corporation, 2350 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
AU: Aponte, N
EM: naponte@naic.edu
AF: Arecibo Observatory, NAIC, HC3 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612
AU: Sulzer, M
EM: msulzer@naic.edu
AF: Arecibo Observatory, NAIC, HC3 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612
AB: Interest in coupling between atmospheric regions continues to increase. Gravity waves generated in the troposphere are often cited as a coupling mechanism between the low and upper altitude regions. However, few studies demonstrating coupling between the troposphere and thermosphere/ionosphere exist. Intense, localized storms, such as hurricanes and tropical storms, should provide an ideal opportunity to examine thermospheric/ionospheric coupling. In order to ascertain the source of any ionospheric variations observed coincident to a tropical storm, a number of instruments have been utilized: ionosondes, incoherent scatter radars, and satellite-borne GPS receivers. Since 1968, 220 hurricanes/tropical storms have passed within 500 km of an operational ionosonde or incoherent scatter radar. Statistics covering the last 10 years are presented. Although many of the ionospheric disturbances are likely the result of geomagnetic coupling processes, there exist a significant number of disturbances that occur following the passage of tropospheric storms. Possible explanations for tropospheric/ionospheric coupling are also presented.
DE: 2427 Ionosphere/atmosphere interactions (0335)
DE: 2435 Ionospheric disturbances
DE: 2439 Ionospheric irregularities
DE: 2443 Midlatitude ionosphere
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005