09:00 〜 09:15
[PEM12-01] A-I coupling: Planetary waves driven variability in equatorial plasma bubbles
★Invited Papers
キーワード：Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs), Day-to-day variability, Planetary Waves, Atmosphere-Ionosphere coupling
A significant portion of the ionospheric variability can be driven by lower atmospheric forcing such as planetary waves via vertical coupling processes, especially in the equatorial and low-latitude regions. Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are irregular plasma density depletions that frequently occur in the nighttime equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere. EPBs and associated irregularities can cause satellite signal scintillations and even signal loss of lock, thereby imposing severe space weather effects on communication and navigation systems. However, understanding of the complicated day-to-day variability of EPBs and their connection with lower atmospheric forcing remain a challenging issue for the space weather community. In this study, we use multi-instrument observations (GOLD, ICON, ionosonde) and the WACCM-X simulations to investigate the day-to-day variability of EPBs and to examine their potential connection with planetary waves through the modulation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth rate. Our findings provide new insights into the variability of the ionosphere and its connection with atmospheric waves.