A study of the Joule and Lorentz inputs in the production of atmospheric gravity waves in the upper thermosphere

Abstract

Abstract. First results of a modelling study of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) are presented. A fully-coupled global thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere model is used to examine the relative importance of Lorentz forcing and Joule heating in the generation of AGWs. It is found that Joule heating is the dominant component above 110km. The effects of the direction of the Lorentz forcing component on the subsequent propagation of the AGW are also addressed. It is found that enhancement of zonal E×B forcing results in AGWs at F-region altitudes of similar magnitudes travelling from the region of forcing in both poleward and equatorward directions, whilst enhancement of equatorward meridional E×B forcing results in AGWs travelling both poleward and equatorward, but with the magnitude of the poleward wave severely attenuated compared with the equatorward wave