Submit to Atmosphere Review for Atmosphere Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Upper Atmosphere".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 March 2023) | Viewed by 18235

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Goderdzi Didebulidze

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, Kakutsa Cholokashvili ave. 3/5, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
Interests: generation of atmospheric waves under various helio-geophysical conditions; influence of regional and global scale dynamical processes on atmospheric luminous layers; influence of earthquakes on the upper atmosphere nightglow intensities; modeling of formation of the ionospheric sporadic E layers; regional characteristics of the lower and upper atmosphere coupling in the caucasus; geomagnetic storms and their influence on the atmosphere-ionosphere coupling; influence of galactic cosmic rays flux on the atmosphere structure; influence of climate changes on the long-term changes of the atmosphere and ionosphere parameters; cosmic and anthropogenic factors of the climate change

Prof. Dr. Sergey P. Kshevetskii

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Theoretical Physics Department, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia
Interests: applied mathematics; fluid dynamics; electromagnetism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit your manuscript to a Special Issue of the open access journal Atmosphere, entitled “State-of-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics”.

Atmospheric gravity waves are the subject of increased interest in observational and theoretical studies in atmospheric physics. These waves are generated under various helio-geophysical conditions and play an important role in the lower and upper atmosphere coupling, as well as the upper atmosphere–ionosphere interaction.

The amplitude of the vertically propagating gravity waves, generated in the lower atmosphere by orographic, meteorological, tectonic, tsunami and other ground and in situ effects, tends to grow exponentially, which makes these waves noticeable in the upper layers of the atmosphere and ionosphere. Various properties of the space–time development of these waves (e.g. generation, breaking into small scale waves, dissipation, etc.) are observed by optical, radar, GNSS receivers and other ground-based and satellite methods, which are important to determine and model the dependence of these waves on regional, seasonal, geomagnetic and solar activities.

By the combined action of ion-neutral collisions and Lorentz forces in the upper atmosphere, gravity waves influence the distribution and behavior of charged particles in the ionosphere E and F regions, which are expressed differently in the equatorial, polar, and mid-latitude regions. There is a growing interest in the study of the role of gravity waves in the formation and behavior of ionospheric irregular structures, e.g., equatorial plasma bubbles, traveling ionospheric disturbances, and sporadic E.

Generation, propagation, nonlinear decay and dissipation of atmospheric gravity waves, as well as interaction with the mean flow, occurs during planetary waves, tidal motions and other coupled small and planetary scale phenomena. Taking these processes into account is important for modeling the effects of gravity waves on the global circulation process.

The manuscripts concerning the above-described studies and similar observational, theoretical and model studies of atmospheric processes coupled with atmospheric gravity waves are welcome in this Special Issue. Studies of these waves in the atmospheres of other planets are also welcome.

Dr. Goderdzi Didebulidze
Prof. Dr. Sergey P. Kshevetskii
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

atmospheric gravity waves in the lower, middle and upper atmosphere–ionosphere
generation, breaking, dissipation and turbulence
ionospheric irregularities caused by gravity waves
effects of gravity waves on global circulation in earth’s and other planets' atmospheres.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

23 pages, 6689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine-Learning-Based Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling Associated with Mw > 6 Earthquakes in America

by Munawar Shah, Rasim Shahzad, Punyawi Jamjareegulgarn, Bushra Ghaffar, José Francisco de Oliveira-Júnior, Ahmed M. Hassan and Nivin A. Ghamry

Atmosphere 2023, 14(8), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14081236 - 31 Jul 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2339

Abstract

The identification of atmospheric and ionospheric variations through multiple remote sensing and global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) has contributed substantially to the development of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling (LAIC) phenomenon over earthquake (EQ) epicenters. This study presents an approach for investigating the Petrolia EQ (Mw 6.2; dated 20 December 2021) and the Monte Cristo Range EQ (Mw 6.5; dated 15 May 2020) through several parameters to observe the precursory signals of various natures. These parameters include Land Surface Temperature (LST), Air Temperature (AT), Relative Humidity (RH), Air Pressure (AP), Outgoing Longwave Radiations (OLRs), and vertical Total Electron Content (TEC), and these are used to contribute to the development of LAIC in the temporal window of 30 days before and 15 days after the main shock. We observed a sharp increase in the LST in both the daytime and nighttime of the Petrolia EQ, but only an enhancement in the daytime LST for the Monte Cristo Range EQ within 3–7 days before the main shock. Similarly, a negative peak was observed in RH along with an increment in the OLR 5–7 days prior to both impending EQs. Furthermore, the Monte Cristo Range EQ also exhibited synchronized ionospheric variation with other atmospheric parameters, but no such co-located and synchronized anomalies were observed for the Petrolia EQ. We also applied machine learning (ML) methods to confirm these abrupt variations as anomalies to further aid certain efforts in the development of the LAIC in order to forecast EQs in the future. The ML methods also make prominent the variation in the different data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 11778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Atmospheric and Ionospheric Effects of La Palma Volcano 2021 Eruption

by Hanshuo Zhang, Kaiguang Zhu, Yuqi Cheng, Dedalo Marchetti, Wenqi Chen, Mengxuan Fan, Siyu Wang, Ting Wang, Donghua Zhang and Yiqun Zhang

Atmosphere 2023, 14(8), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14081198 - 26 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2110

Abstract

On 19 September 2021, La Palma volcano (Canarias Archipelagos) started an eruption that persisted until 13 December 2021. Despite the Volcano Explosive Index (VEI) being estimated equal to 3, corresponding to not so powerful eruption, the long eruption activity posed much scientific interest in this natural hazard event. In this paper, we searched for possible effects of this eruption on the atmosphere and ionosphere, investigating the climatological archive and Swarm magnetic satellite data. In particular, we explored Aerosol, Sulphur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide concentrations in the atmosphere identifying both the direct emissions from the volcano as well as the plume that drifted toward West-South-West and was reinforced during the eruption period. The vertical profile of temperature from the Saber satellite was analysed to search for the possible presence of acoustic gravity waves induced by volcanic activity. Compared with the year before without eruption in the areas, a lot of Saber profiles present an Energy Potential very much higher than the previous year, proposing the presence of Acoustic Gravity Waves (AGW) induced by volcano eruption activity. We also identified Swarm magnetic disturbances on the day of the eruption and in November. The mechanism of coupling could be different for the latter one, as there is no evidence for AGW. They may be due to a more complex of physical and chemical alterations that propagate from the lower atmosphere to the upper one into the ionosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 4680 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Role of Neutral Wind Velocity and Its Vertical Component on Predictability of Formation and Localization of Sporadic E (Es)

by Goderdzi G. Didebulidze, Giorgi Dalakishvili, Maya Todua and Lekso Toriashvili

Atmosphere 2023, 14(6), 1008; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14061008 - 10 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2056

Abstract

The formation and localization of sporadic E (Es) layers predicted by the ion vertical drift velocity and its vertical change in the lower thermosphere during nighttime are shown analytically and by numerical simulations. The consideration of the existence of a minimum negative value of the vertical change of the ion vertical drift velocity as a necessary condition of formation of the Es layer and determining ion convergence rate into this layer is extended in case of the presence of vertical wind. Upward vertical wind can shift the convergence regions upward, while downward vertical wind shifts them downward, unlike the cases of the presence of only meridional and zonal winds. It also changes the ion convergence rate compared to the one with just a horizontal wind. It is shown for the first time that the upward constant wind also causes the convergence of ions with the maximum rate in the region where the ion-neutral collision frequency is equal to their cyclotron frequency. While demonstrating the presented theory by numerical simulations, HWM14 data is used for the meridional and zonal wind velocity profiles and the presence of its vertical component is assumed. In this case, in addition to the estimated ion drift velocity and its vertical changes, their initial distribution and ambipolar diffusion also determine the development of ion convergence/divergence processes. For a small magnitude of vertical wind velocity, its significant influence on the ions/electrons behavior is demonstrated, which shows the importance of both tidal wind and wind changes caused by the propagation of atmospheric gravity waves on the formation of the Es layer. In this theoretical research, it is shown that the realistic profile of the wind velocity, which takes into account the vertical component along with its zonal and meridional ones, is important for the prediction of the Es layers formation, as well as regions of ion depletion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 5680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Propagation of Perturbations in the Lower and Upper Atmosphere over the Central Mediterranean, Driven by the 15 January 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano Explosion

by Paolo Madonia, Alessandro Bonaccorso, Alessandro Bonforte, Ciro Buonocunto, Andrea Cannata, Luigi Carleo, Claudio Cesaroni, Gilda Currenti, Sofia De Gregorio, Bellina Di Lieto, Marco Guerra, Massimo Orazi, Luigi Pasotti, Rosario Peluso, Michael Pezzopane, Vito Restivo, Pierdomenico Romano, Mariangela Sciotto and Luca Spogli

Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010065 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3100

Abstract

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano (Pacific Ocean) generated a cataclysmic explosion on 15 January 2022, triggering several atmospheric disturbances at a global scale, as a huge increase in the total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere, and a pressure wave travelling in the troposphere. We collected and analysed data over the Mediterranean to study these disturbances, and in particular, (i) data from the barometric and infrasonic stations installed on Italian active volcanoes by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) for investigating the tropospheric pressure waves; (ii) barometric data from the INGV-TROPOMAG and SIAS (Sicilian Agro-meteorological Information System) networks, for investigating the interaction between the orography and pressure waves; (iii) ionograms from the Advanced Ionospheric Sounder-INGV ionosonde at Gibilmanna (Sicily, Italy); (iv) data from the RING (Rete Italiana Integrata GNSS) network, to retrieve the ionospheric TEC; (v) soil CO₂ flux data from the INGV surveillance network of Vulcano Island. The analysis of the ground-level barometric data highlights that pressure waves were reflected and diffracted by the topographic surface, creating a complex space–time dynamic of the atmospheric disturbances travelling over Sicily, driven by the interference among the different wavefronts. The ionograms show that a medium-scale travelling ionospheric disturbance (MSTID), with a horizontal wavelength of about 220 km and a period of about 35 min, propagated through the ionospheric plasma in the correspondence of the first barometric variations. Moreover, comparing detrended TEC and barometric data, we further confirmed the presence of the aforementioned MSTID together with its close relation to the tropospheric disturbance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 2126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Atmospheric Gravity Wave Potential Energy Observed by Rayleigh Lidar above Jiuquan (40° N, 95° E), China

by Weibo Zhao, Xiong Hu, Zhaoai Yan, Weilin Pan, Wenjie Guo, Junfeng Yang and Xiaoyong Du

Atmosphere 2022, 13(7), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13071098 - 13 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2046

Abstract

Two years of observational data from the 532 nm Rayleigh lidar were used to study the vertical profile characteristics of atmospheric gravity wave potential energy density (GWPED) between 40–80 km above Jiuquan (40° N, 95° E) for the first time. The atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) characteristics are presented in terms of the atmospheric relative temperature perturbation, along with the estimated annual and seasonal GWPED with high spatial and temporal resolution (0.5 km and 1 h). The annual potential energy mass density

E_{pm}

and volume density

E_{pv}

vertical profiles show that the GWPED in the upper mesosphere is close to the adiabatic growth rate. The seasonal vertical profiles result shows that

E_{pm}

is higher in autumn–winter than in spring–summer in all the observed altitudes. The GWPED approaches adiabatic growth above 61 and 65 km in spring–summer and autumn–winter, respectively. The AGWs severely dissipate below the turning altitudes and transfer energy into the background atmosphere. The GWPED scale heights show that the AGWs dissipation rate of spring–summer is close to that of autumn–winter. Furthermore, based on the wind data from SD–WACCM, the influence of critical level filtering on AGWs is discussed. It plays an important role in affecting the seasonal variation in GWPED. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 2823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mesospheric Gravity Wave Potential Energy Density Observed by Rayleigh Lidar above Golmud (36.25° N, 94.54° E), Tibetan Plateau

by Weibo Zhao, Xiong Hu, Weilin Pan, Zhaoai Yan and Wenjie Guo

Atmosphere 2022, 13(7), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13071084 - 9 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1759

Abstract

Rayleigh lidar data in 2013–2015 is used to describe the characteristics of gravity wave potential energy density in the mesosphere above Golmud (36.25° N, 94.54° E) of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, the vertical profiles of the atmospheric gravity wave potential energy [...] Read more.

E_{pm}

and the potential energy volume density

E_{pv}

. It shows the mathematical characteristics of the atmospheric gravity wave potential energy density vertical distribution, which also indicate the gravity waves are obviously dissipated in the lower mesosphere and close to conservative growth in the upper mesosphere (the turning point is around 61 km). A total of 1174 h of data covers seasonal changes, which reveals the seasonal characteristics of the potential energy density. The

E_{pm}

increases faster with altitude in summer than others. All seasons of the potential energy density profiles show that gravity waves are dissipated in the lower mesosphere, among which spring and winter are the most severe and summer is weakest. The

E_{pm}

is higher in spring and winter below 55 km. Above 55 km, it is the maximum in winter, followed by summer. Then, the AGWs activities between the location with mid–latitudes and different longitudes are compared and discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Observation of Gravity Wave Vertical Propagation through a Mesospheric Inversion Layer

by Thurian Le Du, Philippe Keckhut, Alain Hauchecorne and Pierre Simoneau

Atmosphere 2022, 13(7), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13071003 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1870

Abstract

The impact of a mesospheric temperature inversion on the vertical propagation of gravity waves has been investigated using OH airglow images and ground-based Rayleigh lidar measurements carried out in December 2017 at the Haute-Provence Observatory (OHP, France, 44N). These measurements provide complementary information that allows the vertical propagation of gravity waves to be followed. An intense mesospheric inversion layer (MIL) observed near 60 km of altitude with the lidar disappeared in the middle of the night, offering a unique opportunity to evaluate its impact on gravity wave (GW) propagation observed above the inversion with airglow cameras. With these two instruments, a wave with a 150 min period was observed and was also identified in meteorological analyses. The gravity waves’ potential energy vertical profile clearly shows the GW energy lost below the inversion altitude and a large increase of gravity wave energy above the inversion in OH airglow images with waves exhibiting higher frequency. MILs are known to cause instabilities at its top part, and this is probably the reason for the enhanced gravity waves observed above. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Ionospheric Response to Two Types of Electron Concentration Disturbances

by Artur F. Yakovets, Galina I. Gordiyenko, Olga N. Kryakunova and Yurii G. Litvinov

Atmosphere 2022, 13(4), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13040602 - 9 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1554

Abstract

Based on the data of vertical sounding of the ionosphere in Almaty in 2000–2008, the paper deals with the response of the F2-layer to the passage of large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs) and the formation of the nighttime enhancements in the electron concentration of the F2-layer. For these two types of perturbations, we compared behavior in the time of the following layer parameters: the height of maximum of the layer (h_mF), the height of the bottom of the layer (h_botF), the half-thickness of the layer (Δh = h_mF − h_botF), the electron concentration at fixed heights and at the maximum of the layer (N_mF), the height profiles of the nighttime enhancement peak-to-peak value of the F2-layer (A), and the height h_Am corresponding to the maximum enhancement amplitude. The parameters h_mF, h_botF and Δh demonstrate similar dependences associated with the temporal expansion and upward rise of the ionospheric layer and its lowering, accompanied by layer compression, giving an N_mF peak at the moment of maximum compression. The common features of the profiles of two types of disturbances are found: the height h_Am is always below h_mF, there is a good correlation between h_Am and h_mF, and the difference between h_Am and h_mF increases linearly with h_mF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

State-of-the-Art in Gravity Waves and Atmospheric-Ionospheric Physics

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI