The Spin-Up Circulation of High-Latitude Ion Drag-Driven Gyres

Details The Spin-Up Circulation of High-Latitude Ion Drag-Driven Gyres The Spin-Up Circulation of High-Latitude Ion Drag-Driven Gyres

Dec 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufmsa72b0523b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #SA72B-0523

Physics

2427 Ionosphere/Atmosphere Interactions (0335), 3369 Thermospheric Dynamics (0358)

Scientific paper

We have used a model of thermospheric gyres with simplified geometry (azimuthally symmetric cylindrical coordinate) to study dynamical adjustment for high-latitude gyres spun up into rapid motion by ion drag. We examine the radial circulation forced by dynamical imbalances when winds are spun up subject only to circum-gyre ion-drag forcing resulting from strong radial electric fields. Our major finding is that the divergent radial wind driven by the imbalance between the inertial forces (centrifugal and Coriolis) and the pressure gradient force during spin-up is a significant contributor to the radial circulation forced by all sources. While diabatic heating over the polar cap acts to elevate the temperature over the polar cap as a whole, the changes induced by the dynamically induced circulation account for the fact that cyclonic gyres in the lower thermosphere are relatively colder and denser and the anticyclonic gyres are relatively warm and less dense. We suggest that this is a result of a dynamical adjustment in which the divergent radial circulation attempts to bring the ion drag-driven circum-gyre winds into a balanced state resembling gradient wind balance.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Spin-Up Circulation of High-Latitude Ion Drag-Driven Gyres does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Spin-Up Circulation of High-Latitude Ion Drag-Driven Gyres, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Spin-Up Circulation of High-Latitude Ion Drag-Driven Gyres will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1434469