F2‐region atmospheric gravity waves due to high‐power HF heating and subauroral polarization streams

Abstract

We report the first evidence of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) generated in the F2 region by high‐power HF heating and subauroral polarization streams. Data come from the CHAMP and GRACE spacecraft overflying the High‐frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) heating facility. These observations facilitate a new method of studying the ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling in a controlled fashion by using various HF‐heating regimes. They also reveal the subauroralF2 region to be a significant source of substorm AGWs, in addition to the well‐known auroralE region.