Effects Of Energetic Particle Precipitation Research Articles

Energetic particle precipitation influences global secondary ozone distribution

The secondary ozone layer is a global peak in ozone abundance in the upper mesosphere-lower thermosphere (UMLT) around 90-95 km. The effect of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) from geomagnetic processes on this UMLT ozone remains largely unexplored. In this research we investigated how the secondary ozone responds to EPP using satellite observations. In addition, the residual Mean Meridional Circulation (MMC) derived from model simulations and the atomic oxygen [O], atomic hydrogen [H], temperature measurements from satellite observations were used to characterise the residual circulation changes during EPP events. We report regions of secondary ozone enhancement or deficit across low, mid and high latitudes as a result of global circulation and transport changes induced by EPP. The results are supported by a sensitivity test using an empirical model.

Electricity consumption in Finland influenced by climate effects of energetic particle precipitation

It is known that electricity consumption in many cold Northern countries depends greatly on prevailing outdoor temperatures especially during the winter season. On the other hand, recent research has demonstrated that solar wind driven energetic particle precipitation from space into the polar atmosphere can influence the stratospheric polar vortex and tropospheric weather patterns during winter. These changes are significant, e.g., in Northern Europe, especially in Finland. In this study we demonstrate that geomagnetic activity, as a proxy of energetic particle precipitation, significantly influences Finland’s average temperature and total wintertime electricity consumption in Finland. This influence is only seen when the prevailing equatorial stratospheric winds, so called QBO winds, are easterly. The results demonstrate a previously unrecognized societal influence of space weather, and imply that long-term energy consumption forecasts could potentially be improved by considering long-term space weather predictions.

Effects of Energetic Particle Precipitation on Stratospheric Temperature During Disturbed Stratospheric Polar Vortex Conditions

AbstractRecently, observational and re‐analysis studies have outlined potentially enhanced influence of Energetic Particle Precipitation (EPP) either at times preceding Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSW) or when the distribution of planetary wave activity is suitable. In addition, significant correlations have been found between EPP and the occurrence rate of SSWs when the phases of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) are taken into account. Here we study the influence of EPP during disturbed stratospheric polar vortex conditions using chemistry‐climate model SOCOL‐MPIOM3 over the 20th century. When classifying disturbed conditions, the definition of minor SSWs are utilized along with a temperature gradient (day‐to‐day variations) criteria at 90°N and 10 hPa acting as a measure of the strength of the events. We find no influence of EPP on the occurrence rate of disturbed conditions over the last 100 year period. However, conditions preceding and during the disturbances are significantly different when EPP forcing is included into the model. This is especially true for stratospheric disturbances occurring in February. Furthermore, there is a clear tendency that the EPP effect becomes more notable after the 1950s. Our results imply that EPP forcing could be important for the stratospheric conditions during winter and that pre‐conditioning forced by atmospheric disturbances are an important factor when considering how the mechanism operates.

Edvartsen, J,Ø., Maliniemi, V. and Nesse, H. (2023). Effects of Energetic Particle Precipitation on stratospheric temperature during disturbed Stratospheric Polar Vortex conditions. JGR:Atmospheres

Edvartsen, J,Ø., Maliniemi, V. and Nesse, H. (2023). Effects of Energetic Particle Precipitation on stratospheric temperature during disturbed Stratospheric Polar Vortex conditions. JGR:Atmospheres

Effects of Energetic Particle Precipitation on Electron Temperature in the E-Region of Ionosphere: an Experimental Study

Effects of Energetic Particle Precipitation on Electron Temperature in the E-Region of Ionosphere: an Experimental Study

Effects of Energetic Particle Precipitation on PMSE Echoes Observed by EISCAT UHF Radar: A Case Study

Effects of Energetic Particle Precipitation on PMSE Echoes Observed by EISCAT UHF Radar: A Case Study

Statistical response of middle atmosphere composition to solar proton events in WACCM-D simulations: the importance of lower ionospheric chemistry

Abstract. Atmospheric effects of solar proton events (SPEs) have been studied for decades, because their drastic impact can be used to test our understanding of upper stratospheric and mesospheric chemistry in the polar cap regions. For example, odd hydrogen and odd nitrogen are produced during SPEs, which leads to depletion of ozone in catalytic reactions, such that the effects are easily observed from satellites during the strongest events. Until recently, the complexity of the ion chemistry in the lower ionosphere (i.e., in the D region) has restricted global models to simplified parameterizations of chemical impacts induced by energetic particle precipitation (EPP). Because of this restriction, global models have been unable to correctly reproduce some important effects, such as the increase in mesospheric HNO3 or the changes in chlorine species. Here we use simulations from the WACCM-D model, a variant of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, to study the statistical response of the atmosphere to the 66 strongest SPEs which occurred in the years 1989–2012. Our model includes a set of D-region ion chemistry, designed for a detailed representation of the atmospheric effects of SPEs and EPP in general. We use superposed epoch analysis to study changes in O3, HOx (OH + HO2), Clx (Cl + ClO), HNO3, NOx (NO + NO2) and H2O. Compared to the standard WACCM which uses an ion chemistry parameterization, WACCM-D produces a larger response in O3 and NOx and a weaker response in HOx and introduces changes in HNO3 and Clx. These differences between WACCM and WACCM-D highlight the importance of including ion chemistry reactions in models used to study EPP.

Evidence for energetic particle precipitation and quasi-biennial oscillation modulations of the Antarctic NO<sub>2</sub> springtime stratospheric column from OMI observations

Abstract. Observations from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the Aura satellite are used to study the effect of energetic particle precipitation (EPP, as proxied by the geomagnetic activity index, Ap) on the Antarctic stratospheric NO2 column in late winter–spring (August–December) during the period from 2005 to 2017. We show that the polar (60–90∘ S) stratospheric NO2 column is significantly correlated with EPP throughout the Antarctic spring, until the breakdown of the polar vortex in November. The strongest correlation takes place during years with the easterly phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). The QBO modulation may be a combination of different effects: the QBO is known to influence the amount of the primary NOx source (N2O) via transport from the Equator to the polar region; and the QBO phase also affects polar temperatures, which may provide a link to the amount of denitrification occurring in the polar vortex. We find some support for the latter in an analysis of temperature and HNO3 observations from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS, on Aura). Our results suggest that once the background effect of the QBO is accounted for, the NOx produced by EPP significantly contributes to the stratospheric NO2 column at the time and altitudes when the ozone hole is present in the Antarctic stratosphere. Based on our findings, and the known role of NOx as a catalyst for ozone loss, we propose that as chlorine activation continues to decrease in the Antarctic stratosphere, the total EPP-NOx needs be accounted for in predictions of Antarctic ozone recovery.

On the radar frequency dependence of polar mesosphere summer echoes

Polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSEs) are very strong radar echoes in the polar mesopause in local summer. Here we present the frequency dependence of the volume reflectivity and the effect of energetic particle precipitation on modulated PMSEs by using PMSEs observations carried out by European Incoherent SCATter (EISCAT) heating equipment simultaneously with very high frequency (VHF) radar and ultra high frequency (UHF) radar on 12 July 2007. According to the experimental observations, the PMSEs occurrence rate at VHF was much higher than that at UHF, and the altitude of the PMSEs maximum observed at VHF was higher than that at UHF. Overlapping regions were observed by VHF radar between high energetic particle precipitation and the PMSEs. In addition, high-frequency heating had a very limited impact on PMSEs when the UHF electron density was enhanced because of energetic particle precipitation. In addition, an updated qualitative method was used to study the relationship between volume reflectivity and frequency. The volume reflectivity was found to be inversely proportional to the fourth power of radar frequency. The theoretical and experimental results provide a definitive data foundation for further analysis and investigation of the physical mechanism of PMSEs.

Climate impact of idealized winter polar mesospheric and stratospheric ozone losses as caused by energetic particle precipitation

Abstract. Energetic particles enter the polar atmosphere and enhance the production of nitrogen oxides and hydrogen oxides in the winter stratosphere and mesosphere. Both components are powerful ozone destroyers. Recently, it has been inferred from observations that the direct effect of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) causes significant long-term mesospheric ozone variability. Satellites observe a decrease in mesospheric ozone up to 34 % between EPP maximum and EPP minimum. Stratospheric ozone decreases due to the indirect effect of EPP by about 10–15 % observed by satellite instruments. Here, we analyze the climate impact of winter boreal idealized polar mesospheric and polar stratospheric ozone losses as caused by EPP in the coupled Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM). Using radiative transfer modeling, we find that the radiative forcing of mesospheric ozone loss during polar night is small. Hence, climate effects of mesospheric ozone loss due to energetic particles seem unlikely. Stratospheric ozone loss due to energetic particles warms the winter polar stratosphere and subsequently weakens the polar vortex. However, those changes are small, and few statistically significant changes in surface climate are found.

Statistical investigation of Na layer response to geomagnetic activity using resonance scattering measurements by Odin/OSIRIS

AbstractWe have performed a statistical investigation of the global response of the Na layer to geomagnetic activity using Na density data from 2004 to 2010 obtained using the Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imager System (OSIRIS) on board the Odin satellite. In the analysis, we categorized the Na density data according to the auroral electrojet (AE) index and then compared the resulting data sets. Regarding the results, we found a significant decrease in the Na density above a height of ∼95 km in both the southern and northern polar regions with an increase in the AE index. The cause of the decrease in the Na density is discussed, and we conclude that the decrease in the Na density was mainly due to the effect of energetic particle precipitation.

Variability of virtual layered phenomena in the mesosphere observed with medium frequency radars at 69°N

The MF-Saura radar positioned at polar latitudes is very sensitive to enhanced ionization caused by solar and geomagnetic activity. Differing from the intensities normally detected by partial reflections from the ionospheric D region during quiet conditions, distinct layers can be seen due to intense increase of electron number density at as low as 50 km altitude caused by particle precipitation. Effects of energetic particle precipitation on observations by medium frequency (MF) radars have been rarely reported so far, generally associated with solar proton events, which are rather scarce especially during solar minimum conditions. Here, we focus on events associated with precipitation of particles with lower energy (<10 MeV), which are seen by the MF radar with occurrence rates of as much as 40% at times. Such situations are studied for a period of continuous observations for one solar cycle and statistical results like diurnal and annual distributions are presented.

Effects of energetic particles precipitation on stratospheric ozone in the Southern Hemisphere

Measurements from TOMS and UARS-HALOE are used to estimate the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) over the stratosphere during two geomagnetic storms occurred in November of the years 2003 and 2004. The EPP couples the solar wind to the Earth’s atmosphere and indirectly to the Earth’s climate. Due to particle precipitation, the ionization and dissociation increase, and create odd nitrogen (NOx) and odd hydrogen (HOx) in the upper atmosphere, which can affect ozone chemistry. In this paper, statistically significant variation in total ozone content at middle latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere is observed. The variations depend on the intensity of geomagnetic disturbances and the geomagnetic longitude. A significant variation in NOx concentration at altitudes from 30 to 50km is observed from the profiles analysis.

Energetic Particle Influence on the Earth’s Atmosphere

This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere.

The influence of major sudden stratospheric warming and elevated stratopause events on the effects of energetic particle precipitation in WACCM

We investigate the influence of major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) and elevated stratopause (ES) events in the Northern Hemisphere winter on the transport of NOx produced by energetic particle precipitation (EPP) from the mesosphere–lower thermosphere to the stratosphere using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM). Increases in NOx following a major SSW and/or ES event are in excess of 100% compared to winters when no major SSW or ES event occurred. The increase in NOx is attributed to an increase in the descending branch of the residual circulation () following the event. The timing of the event strongly affects the amount of NOx that descends to the stratosphere: the earlier the event occurs, the more NOx descends to the stratosphere. We also quantify the amount of NOx produced by EPP descending to the stratosphere in each winter and find that the largest increases in NOx are in years that have a major SSW followed by an ES event early in the season (December or early January). The strength of following an event shows a very strong seasonal dependence and explains why the timing of the event affects the transport of NOx.

Formation of stratospheric nitric acid by a hydrated ion cluster reaction: Implications for the effect of energetic particle precipitation on the middle atmosphere

In order to improve our understanding of the effects of energetic particle precipitation on the middle atmosphere and in particular upon the nitrogen family and ozone, we have modeled the chemical and dynamical middle atmosphere response to the introduction of a chemical pathway that produces HNO3 by conversion of N2O5 upon hydrated water clusters H+·(H2O)n. We have used an ensemble of simulations with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Whole‐Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) chemistry‐climate model. The chemical pathway alters the internal partitioning of the NOy family during winter months in both hemispheres, and ultimately triggers statistically significant changes in the climatological distributions of constituents including: i) a cold season production and loss of HNO3 and N2O5, respectively, and ii) a cold season decrease and increase in NOx/NOy‐ratio and O3, respectively, in the polar regions of both hemispheres. We see an improved seasonal evolution of modeled HNO3 compared to satellite observations from Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), albeit not enough HNO3 is produced at high altitudes. Through O3changes, both temperature and dynamics are affected, allowing for complex chemical‐dynamical feedbacks beyond the cold season when the pathway is active. Hence, we also find a NOxpolar increase in spring‐to‐summer in the southern hemisphere, and in spring in the northern hemisphere. The springtime NOxincrease arises from anomalously strong poleward transport associated with a weaker polar vortex. We argue that the weakening of zonal‐mean polar winds down to the lower stratosphere, which is statistically significant at the 0.90 level in spring months in the southern hemisphere, is caused by strengthened planetary waves induced by the middle and sub‐polar latitude zonal asymmetries in O3and short‐wave heating.

Atmospheric effects of energetic particle precipitation in the Arctic winter 1978–1979 revisited

The Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) measured polar stratospheric enhancements of NO2 mixing ratios due to energetic particle precipitation (EPP) in the Arctic winter of 1978–1979. Recently reprocessed LIMS data are compared to more recent measurements from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) and the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE‐FTS) to place the LIMS measurements in the context of current observations. The amount of NOx (NO + NO2) entering the stratosphere that has been created by EPP in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (EPP‐NOx) has been quantified for the 1978–1979 and 2002–2003 through 2008–2009 Arctic winters. The NO2 enhancements in the LIMS data are similar to those in MIPAS and ACE‐FTS data in the Arctic winters of 2002–2003, 2004–2005, 2006–2007, and 2007–2008. The largest enhancement by far is in 2003–2004 (∼2.2 Gmol at 1500 K), which is attributed to a combination of elevated EPP and unusual dynamics that led to strong descent in the upper stratosphere/lower mesosphere in late winter. The enhancements in 2005–2006 and 2008–2009, during which large stratospheric NOx enhancements were caused by a dynamical situation similar to that in 2003–2004, are larger than in all the other years (except 2003–2004) at 3000 K. However, by 2000 K the enhancements in 2005–2006 (2008–2009) are on the same order of magnitude as (smaller than) all other years. These results highlight the importance of the timing of the descent in determining the potential of EPP‐NOx for reaching the middle stratosphere.

Lower polar ionosphere during a solar flare as revealed from radiooccultation data in satellite-to-satellite links

It is shown that there are typical variations in the amplitude and phase of decimetric radio waves in satellite-to-satellite links due to variations in the polar ionosphere structure. The altitude profiles of the electron number density and vertical size of the ionospheric sporadic structures in the nighttime polar regions during the period of intense solar activity in October 25 to November 09, 2003 are estimated. Correlation between the the ionosphere characteristics and the solar-wind parameters is discussed. It is noted that the effect of energetic-particle precipitation due to the influence of shock waves of the solar wind is the main factor responsible for strong variations in the nighttime polar ionosphere.

PENGUIn multi‐instrument observations of dayside high‐latitude injections during the 23 March 2007 substorm

This paper presents ground‐based observations from Antarctic stations during a substorm observed on 23 March 2007. Using fluxgate magnetometer data, supported by numerical modeling, the locations of the stations are shown to straddle the open‐closed magnetic field boundary. Near these locations (on closed field lines), VLF and riometer signatures are observed to show effects of energetic particle precipitation in the morning sector (extending to the postdawn region), confirmed by observations at geosynchronous orbit. In the VLF data, both the initial injection as well as echoes are observed. The mechanism responsible for such high‐latitude injections is thought to be a combination of dynamics of the injection process and drift‐shell splitting. Further work will address whether similar observations can be used to infer the dynamics and/or location of the injection region.

Arctic and Antarctic polar winter NOx and energetic particle precipitation in 2002–2006

We report GOMOS nighttime observations of middle atmosphere NO2 and O3 profiles during eight recent polar winters in the Arctic and Antarctic. The NO2 measurements are used to study the effects of energetic particle precipitation and further downward transport of polar NOx. During seven of the eight observed winters NOx enhancements occur in good correlation with levels of enhanced high‐energy particle precipitation and/or geomagnetic activity as indicated by the Ap index. We find a nearly linear relationship between the average winter time Ap index and upper stratospheric polar winter NO2 column density in both hemispheres. In the Arctic winter 2005–2006 the NOx enhancement is higher than expected from the geomagnetic conditions, indicating the importance of changing meteorological conditions.