The Penetrationof

Solar Storm Effectsinto the

Earth's Atmosphere

Maura Hagan and Ray RobleGang Lu, Jens Oberheide*, Stan Solomon, Art

Richmond National Center for Atmospheric Research

Scott Bailey (U AK), Gonzalo Hernandez (U AK), Charles Jackman (GSFC), Scott Palo (CU),

Dennis Riggin (CoRA), James Russell (Hampton U)

*now at University of Wuppertal

The Overarching Question:The Overarching Question:

How deep into the Earth’s How deep into the Earth’s atmosphere do the effects of atmosphere do the effects of solar and geomagnetic solar and geomagnetic activity penetrate?activity penetrate?

• modeler’s perspective on April 2002 events

• focus on the response of the neutral gas

lower thermosphere mesosphere stratosphere

Part IPart I

Atmospheric Nomenclature mesopause region characteristics

The TIME-GCM April 2002 Simulation

Select Results directdirect penetration geomagnetic activity

lower thermosphere auroral heating; nitric oxide density [NO] ;

radiational cooling; temperature change

directdirect penetration solar particle event stratosphere &

mesosphereionization rate; [NO]; ozone density [O3]

Temperature Structure of Earth’s AtmosphereTemperature Structure of Earth’s AtmosphereTemperature Structure of Earth’s AtmosphereTemperature Structure of Earth’s Atmosphere

Tropo (Greek: tropos); “change”Lots of weather

Strato(Latin: stratum);Layered

Meso(Greek: messos);Middle

Thermo(Greek: thermes);Heat

Exo(greek: exo);outside

Part IPart I

Atmospheric Nomenclature mesopause region characteristics

The TIME-GCM April 2002 Simulation

Select Results directdirect penetration geomagnetic activity

lower thermosphere auroral heating; nitric oxide density [NO] ;

radiational cooling; temperature change

directdirect penetration solar particle event stratosphere &

mesosphereionization rate; [NO]; ozone density [O3]

The Simulation PeriodThe Simulation Period

THE NCAR AMIEAMIEThermospherehermosphereIonosphereonosphereMesosphereesosphereElectrodynamicslectrodynamics -GeneraleneralCirculationirculationModelodel SIMULATIONSIMULATION

•1st Principles Calculation•Resolution: horizontal - 5o x 5o

vertical - 2 grid points /scale height•2-minute time step

•LowerowerBoundaryoundaryConditioonditions:ns: Globallobal-ScalecaleWaveaveModelodel tidal perturbations NONO NationalationalCenter for enter for EnvironmentalnvironmentalPredictionsredictions planetary wave activity

•UpperpperBoundaryoundaryConditioonditions:ns: Radiative forcing - F10.7 Proxy AMIEAMIE - Particles & Electrodynamics

TIME-GCM/AMIE Simulation Inputs*

*

*

Part IPart I

Atmospheric Nomenclature mesopause region characteristics

The TIME-GCM April 2002 Simulation

Select Results - Global EffectsGlobal Effects directdirect penetration geomagnetic activity

lower thermosphere auroral heating; nitric oxide density [NO] ;

radiational cooling; temperature change

directdirect penetration solar particle event stratosphere &

mesosphereionization rate; [NO]; ozone density [O3]

Zonal Mean Auroral Energy Zonal Mean Auroral Energy InputInputHeating Efficiency: Heating Efficiency:

~30%~30%

mW/mW/mm22

~90 ~90 kmkm

~110 ~110 km*km*

~150 ~150 kmkm

~250 ~250 kmkm

mesopaumesopause regionse region

lower lower thermosphthermosph

ereere

upper upper thermosphthermosph

ereere

April April 17,200217,2002

Northern Hemispheric Warming near Northern Hemispheric Warming near 110 km110 kmApril 17 UT=0 ….before major April 17 UT=0 ….before major

onsetonset

AurorAuroral al

EnergEnergy Flux y Flux

Nitric Oxide Nitric Oxide

Density Density EnhancemeEnhanceme

ntsnts

RadiatioRadiational nal

Cooling Cooling ChangesChanges

AurorAuroral al

HeatinHeatingg

+++ +++ dynamicdynamics +++s +++

temperatutemperaturere

Northern Hemispheric Warming near Northern Hemispheric Warming near 110 km110 kmApril 17 UT=20 ….during major April 17 UT=20 ….during major

stormstorm

AurorAuroral al

EnergEnergy Flux y Flux

Nitric Oxide Nitric Oxide

Density Density EnhancemeEnhanceme

ntsnts

RadiatioRadiational nal

Cooling Cooling ChangesChanges

AurorAuroral al

HeatinHeatingg

+++ +++ dynamicdynamics +++s +++

temperatutemperaturere

Part IPart I

Atmospheric Nomenclature mesopause region characteristics

The TIME-GCM April 2002 Simulation

Select Results - Local EffectsLocal Effects directdirect penetration geomagnetic activity

lower thermosphere auroral heating; nitric oxide density [NO] ;

radiational cooling; temperature change

directdirect penetration solar particle event stratosphere &

mesosphereionization rate; [NO]; ozone density [O3]

GOES-8 Proton GOES-8 Proton FluxFluxApril 21-23, April 21-23,

20022002

stratospherstratospheree

mesosphermesospheree

Produce Produce NONOxx & HO & HOxx

AffectsAffectsOO33

TIME-GCM Ionization Rates over TIME-GCM Ionization Rates over AntarcticaAntarctica

……with-without solar with-without solar protonsprotons

Composition Changes over AntarcticaComposition Changes over Antarctica……from TIME-GCM results with & without solar from TIME-GCM results with & without solar protonsprotons

% change % change [NO+NO[NO+NO22]]

% change [O% change [O33]]

deeper and longer-deeper and longer-livedlived