18 Jul 2025
| 18 Jul 2025
Occurrence of tornado outbreaks influenced by solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere–atmosphere coupling
Physics Department, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Vojto Rušin
Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia
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Paul Prikryl
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We consider possible influence on severe weather occurrence by aurorally excited atmospheric gravity waves generated by solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system. The results indicate that these gravity waves contribute to the release of instabilities in frontal zones of extratropical cyclones leading to convection and heavy precipitation. It is observed that severe snowstorms and flash floods tend to occur following arrivals of solar wind high-speed streams.
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Travelling ionospheric disturbances are plasma density fluctuations usually driven by atmospheric gravity waves in the neutral atmosphere. The aim of this study is to attribute multi-instrument observations of travelling ionospheric disturbances to gravity waves generated in the upper atmosphere at high latitudes or gravity waves generated by tropospheric weather systems at mid latitudes.
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The solar wind interaction with Earth’s magnetic field deposits energy into the upper portion of the atmosphere at high latitudes. The coupling process that modulates the ionospheric convection and intensity of ionospheric currents leads to formation of densely ionized patches convecting across the polar cap. The ionospheric currents launch traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) propagating equatorward. The polar cap patches and TIDs are then observed by networks of radars and GPS receivers.
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Climate change is affecting the stability of the atmosphere and increasing the occurrence of extreme rainfall and floods, which pose natural hazards with major socio-economic and health impacts. We show that such events tend to follow arrivals of high-speed solar wind. The role of atmospheric waves generated in the auroral region as the mechanism mediating the influence of solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere–ionosphere–atmosphere system on the troposphere is highlighted.
Paul Prikryl
Adv. Sci. Res., 21, 1–17, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-21-1-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-21-1-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We consider possible influence on severe weather occurrence by aurorally excited atmospheric gravity waves generated by solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system. The results indicate that these gravity waves contribute to the release of instabilities in frontal zones of extratropical cyclones leading to convection and heavy precipitation. It is observed that severe snowstorms and flash floods tend to occur following arrivals of solar wind high-speed streams.
Paul Prikryl, David R. Themens, Jaroslav Chum, Shibaji Chakraborty, Robert G. Gillies, and James M. Weygand
Ann. Geophys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2024-6, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2024-6, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for ANGEO
Short summary
Short summary
Travelling ionospheric disturbances are plasma density fluctuations usually driven by atmospheric gravity waves in the neutral atmosphere. The aim of this study is to attribute multi-instrument observations of travelling ionospheric disturbances to gravity waves generated in the upper atmosphere at high latitudes or gravity waves generated by tropospheric weather systems at mid latitudes.
Paul Prikryl, Robert G. Gillies, David R. Themens, James M. Weygand, Evan G. Thomas, and Shibaji Chakraborty
Ann. Geophys., 40, 619–639, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-619-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-619-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The solar wind interaction with Earth’s magnetic field deposits energy into the upper portion of the atmosphere at high latitudes. The coupling process that modulates the ionospheric convection and intensity of ionospheric currents leads to formation of densely ionized patches convecting across the polar cap. The ionospheric currents launch traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) propagating equatorward. The polar cap patches and TIDs are then observed by networks of radars and GPS receivers.
Paul Prikryl, Vojto Rušin, Emil A. Prikryl, Pavel Šťastný, Maroš Turňa, and Martina Zeleňáková
Ann. Geophys., 39, 769–793, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-769-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-769-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Climate change is affecting the stability of the atmosphere and increasing the occurrence of extreme rainfall and floods, which pose natural hazards with major socio-economic and health impacts. We show that such events tend to follow arrivals of high-speed solar wind. The role of atmospheric waves generated in the auroral region as the mechanism mediating the influence of solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere–ionosphere–atmosphere system on the troposphere is highlighted.
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Short summary
A link between the solar wind and the occurrence of large tornado outbreaks is found. The solar wind coupling to the Earth’s magnetic field deposits energy into the upper atmosphere at high latitudes. We consider the role of aurorally generated atmospheric gravity waves in the release of instabilities contributing to development of synoptic-scale weather conditions favoring formation of supercells in a strong wind shear environment and high tornado occurrence.
A link between the solar wind and the occurrence of large tornado outbreaks is found. The solar...
