edu.ucar.opensky::articles:27439 UCAR/NCAR - Library OpenSky Support PO Box 3000 Boulder CO 80307-3000 opensky@ucar.edu http://opensky.ucar.edu/ homepage pointOfContact 2025-12-24T18:09:01.021808 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d74m98t2 New expression of the field-line integrated Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth rate 2024-08-11T00:00:00Z publication https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d74m98t2 https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JA032550 Huang, C. author Fang, T. author Richmond, Arthur D. author Fuller-Rowell, T. J. author Liu, J. author UCAR/NCAR - Library publisher An expression of Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T) instability growth rate based on the field-line integrated theory is newly established. This expression can be directly utilized in ionosphere models with magnetic flux tube structure based on Modified Apex Coordinates. The R-T instability growth rates are calculated using the thermospheric and ionospheric conditions based on the coupled Whole Atmosphere Model and Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynamic model (WAM-IPE). The parameters used in this calculation include the field-line integrated conductivities and currents, which consider the Quasi-Dipole Coordinates and the modifications to the equations of electrodynamics. Detailed description of the new formulas and comprehensive analyses of diurnal, longitudinal, and seasonal variations of the R-T instability growth rate are carried out. The dependencies of growth rates on pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) vertical drifts and solar activity are also examined. The results show that pronounced R-T growth rates are captured between 18 and 22 local time (LT) when strong PRE occurs in the equatorial ionosphere. The simulated R-T growth rate increases with increasing solar activity levels and demonstrates strong correlations with the angle between the sunset terminator and the geomagnetic field line. These results are consistent with plasma irregularity occurrence rates shown in various satellite observations, suggesting that the newly developed R-T growth rate calculation can effectively capture the probability of irregularities by considering the changes along magnetic flux-tubes in the ionosphere. Since the WAM-IPE is running in operation at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center, the new calculations can be potentially implemented in the near future to provide forecasted information of the R-T growth rate. UCAR/NCAR - Library OpenSky Support PO Box 3000 Boulder CO 80307-3000 opensky@ucar.edu http://opensky.ucar.edu/ homepage pointOfContact PDF Text theme Resource Type 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z publication Copyright 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU). None eng geoscientificInformation