[A-OS19] Dynamics of oceanic and atmospheric waves, vortices, and circulations

[AOS19-P03] Relationship between solar wind and atmospheric circulation

*Paul Prikryl¹ (1.Physics Department University of New Brunswick and Geomagnetic Laboratory Natural Resources Canada)

Keywords:Solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere coupling, High-speed solar wind, Internal gravity waves, Atmospheric circulation, Extratropical and tropical cyclones

More than four decades have passed since the discovery of a relationship between solar wind magnetic sector boundary structure and the winter mid-latitude upper-tropospheric vorticity/circulation [1,2]. These results have been later confirmed and various physical mechanisms proposed [3,4]. Solar wind to magnetosphere - ionosphere - atmosphere (MIA) coupling process generates internal atmospheric gravity waves propagating upward and downward from the lower thermosphere sources at high latitudes [5]. If ducted over long distances in the lower atmosphere they can reach troposphere [6,7]. Despite significantly reduced wave amplitude, but subject to amplification upon over-reflection in the upper troposphere, the gravity waves can trigger moist instabilities to initiate convective bursts [4]. The latent heat release is the source of energy leading to intensification of extratropical storms and convective bursts have been linked to rapid intensification of tropical cyclones. Recent studies [8,9,10] showed that explosive extratropical cyclones and rapid intensification of tropical cyclones tend to follow arrivals of solar wind high-speed streams and interplanetary coronal mass ejections. The solar wind MIA coupling is most intense during the arrivals of co-rotating interaction regions and interplanetary shocks at the leading edge of high-speed solar wind when the amplitudes of aurorally-generated gravity waves are largest. If these gravity waves trigger moist instabilities in extratropical and tropical cyclones to initiate convective bursts the intensification of cyclones leads to enhanced atmospheric circulation.

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[7] Prikryl P., et al., Ann. Geophys., 23, 401-417, 2005. doi:10.5194/angeo-23-401-2005
[8] Prikryl P., et al., J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys., 149, 219–231, 2016.
[9] Prikryl P., et al., J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys., 171, 94–110, 2018.
[10] Prikryl P., et al., J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys., 183, 36-60, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2018.12.009.