Local and Regional Ionospheric Disturbances During Meteorological Disturbances

Abstract

Observations of atmospheric and ionospheric parameters during meteorological disturbances in November–December 2010 are analyzed. It is shown that a sharp change in atmospheric parameters, in particular, an increase in the wind gust velocity at a height of 10 m, correlates stably with local decreases in the critical frequency of the ionospheric F2 layer and the total electron content, which occur over the meteorological disturbance region ~ 3 h later. The spatial dimensions of ionospheric disturbance regions are governed by the scales of the meteorological disturbance and could reach ~1000 km. It is assumed that processes of acoustic-gravity wave excitation in the lower atmosphere are intensified in conditions of meteorological storms. Their propagation into the upper atmosphere leads to a disturbance of the thermospheric state at spatial–time scales determined by the duration and spatial scales of the meteorological disturbance region. Such large-scale thermospheric disturbances influence the circulation and electrodynamical processes in the thermosphere and ionosphere.