Mesospheric dynamical changes induced by the solar proton events in October-November 2003
The Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamic General Circulation Model (TIME-GCM) was used to study the atmospheric dynamical influence of the solar protons that occurred in Oct-Nov 2003, the fourth largest period of solar proton events (SPEs) measured in the past 40 years. The highly energetic solar protons produced odd hydrogen (HO<sub>x</sub>) and odd nitrogen (NO<sub>y</sub>). Significant short-lived ozone decreases (10-70%) followed these enhancements of HO<sub>x</sub> and NO<sub>y</sub> and led to a cooling of most of the lower mesosphere. Temperature changes up to ±2.6 K were computed as well as wind (zonal, meridional, vertical) perturbations up to 20-25% of the background winds as a result of the solar protons. The solar proton-induced mesospheric temperature and wind perturbations diminished over a period of 4-6 weeks after the SPEs. The Joule heating in the mesosphere, induced by the solar protons, was computed to be relatively insignificant for these solar storms.
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https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7d21xv9
eng
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2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
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2007-02-27T00:00:00Z
Copyright 2007 American Geophysical Union.
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