Thermospheric nitric oxide response to shock‐led storms
Abstract
We present a multiyear superposed epoch study of the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry nitric oxide (NO) emission data. NO is a trace constituent in the thermosphere that acts as cooling agent via infrared (IR) emissions. The NO cooling competes with storm time thermospheric heating, resulting in a thermostat effect. Our study of nearly 200 events reveals that shock‐led interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) are prone to early and excessive thermospheric NO production and IR emissions. Excess NO emissions can arrest thermospheric expansion by cooling the thermosphere during intense storms. The strongest events curtail the interval of neutral density increase and produce a phenomenon known as thermospheric “overcooling.” We use Defense Meteorological Satellite Program particle precipitation data to show that interplanetary shocks and their ICME drivers can more than double the fluxes of precipitating particles that are known to trigger the production of thermospheric NO. Coincident increases in Joule heating likely amplify the effect. In turn, NO emissions are more than double. We discuss the roles and features of shock/sheath structures that allow the thermosphere to temper the effects of extreme storm time energy input and explore the implication these structures may have on mesospheric NO. Shock‐driven thermospheric NO IR cooling likely plays an important role in satellite drag forecasting challenges during extreme events.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1002/2016sw001567
Entities
People
- A. A. Cruz
- Cissi Lin
- D. V. Pette
- Delores Knipp
- Liam Kilcommons
- Linda Hunt
- Martin Mlynczak
- T. L. Isaacs
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Center for Atmospheric Research
- National Science Foundation
- University of Colorado
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Texas at Arlington