Impact of Anthropogenic Emission Changes on the Occurrence of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, we examine the impact of increased anthropogenic emissions on equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) occurrence by modeling the growth rate of Rayleigh‐Taylor (R‐T) instability (), which is closely related to EPB generation. Using the global coupled ionosphere‐thermosphere‐electrodynamics model‐institute of geology and geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences model, is calculated under three different CO2 emission levels. As CO2 increases, significantly increases at low altitudes (<∼260 km) and decreases at high altitudes (>∼320 km). In the altitudes in between, increases (decreases) before (after) midnight. Longitudinal variability of the change is manifested apparently above ∼280 km, while it is insignificant for low altitudes. Term analysis revealed that changes in the gravity term and the electric‐field term are the main causes and that the neutral‐wind term is insignificant. The investigation indicates that increased anthropogenic emissions can change EPB occurrence and, in turn, the radio‐communication system and therefore influence modern technological systems, which is expected to be more serious in the future.