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On the formation of a fast thermospheric zonal wind at the magnetic dip equator

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Title: On the formation of a fast thermospheric zonal wind at the magnetic dip equator
Authors: Kondo, T. Browse this author
Richmond, A. D. Browse this author
Liu, H. Browse this author
Lei, J. Browse this author
Watanabe, S. Browse this author →KAKEN DB
Issue Date: 20-May-2011
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Journal Title: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 38
Start Page: L10101
Publisher DOI: 10.1029/2011GL047255
Abstract: Simulations with the NCAR Thermosphere - Ionosphere - Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIE-GCM) have been carried out to understand the cause of strong thermospheric zonal wind at the magnetic dip equator. The simulations show that the zonal winds blow strongly at the magnetic dip equator instead of at the geographic equator due to the latitude structure of ion drag. The fast winds at the dip equator are seen throughout the altitude between 280 km and 600 km, and the wind above 400 km is mainly accelerated via viscosity. A test simulation without viscosity verifies that the extension of the fast equatorial wind to heights above 400 km is maintained by viscous coupling with the winds at lower altitudes, in spite of there being an ion-drag maximum instead of relative minimum at the dip equator at high altitudes. Basically, viscosity is not so large compared to the pressure gradient and ion drag, but dynamics causes the pressure gradient and ion drag approximately to balance, and viscosity becomes important. The simulation results are consistent with the observations by the DE-2 and CHAMP satellites. Therefore we suggest that the zonal wind velocity in the low latitude region is controlled by ion drag and viscosity.
Rights: Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.
Type: article
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2115/47458
Appears in Collections:理学院・理学研究院 (Graduate School of Science / Faculty of Science) > 雑誌発表論文等 (Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, etc)

Submitter: 渡部 重十

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