Atmospheric waves disturbances from the solar terminator according to the VLF radio stations data

TL;DR

This study analyzes atmospheric wave disturbances caused by the solar terminator using VLF radio signals, revealing seasonal patterns, wave characteristics, and propagation directions near the mesopause, and demonstrates the potential for long-term atmospheric monitoring.

Contribution

It provides new insights into AGW behavior at the mesopause during the solar terminator passage using VLF radio data, highlighting seasonal variations and wave propagation directions.

Findings

Waves with periods of 15-20 minutes dominate during the evening terminator.

AGW amplitudes correspond to 12-14% of neutral particle fluctuations.

Waves mainly propagate quasi-horizontally at the mesopause.

Abstract

The perturbations from the solar terminator in the range of acoustic-gravity waves (AGWs) periods from 5 minutes to 1 hour were analysed with the use of measurements of VLF radio signals amplitudes on the European radio path GQD--A118 (Great Britain--France). These observations provide information on the propagation of waves at altitudes near the mesopause ($\sim$ 90 km), where VLF radio waves are reflected. On the considered radio path a systematic increase in fluctuations in the amplitudes of radio waves was observed within a few hours after the passage of the evening terminator. For April, June, October 2020 and February 2021 events, the distribution of the number of wave perturbations with large amplitudes over AGWs time periods has been studied. Our results show that the evening terminator for different seasons is dominated by waves in the range of periods of 15--20 minutes. The amplitudes of the AGWs from the terminator at the heights of the mesosphere (fluctuations in the concentration of neutral particles, velocity components and vertical displacement of the volume element) are approximately determined by the fluctuations of the amplitudes of the VLF radio signals. The amplitudes of the AGWs on the terminator are 12--14\% in relative concentration fluctuations, which correspond to the vertical displacement of the atmospheric gas volume of 1.1--1.3 km. Based on the analysis of the AGW energy balance equation, it was concluded that the waves predominantly propagate in a quasi-horizontal direction at the terminator. The possibility of studying the long-term changes in the mesosphere parameters using fluctuations in the amplitudes of VLF radio waves at the terminator is shown.