Stratospheric warmings: The atmosphere–ionosphere coupling paradigm

The paper presents for the first time the global spatial (latitude and altitude) structure of the mean ionospheric response to sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events in winters of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. To elucidate the effect of the SSWs on the ionosphere the COSMIC foF2, hmF2, and electron density data at fixed altitudes are analyzed. Both the mean foF2 and hmF2 parameters and the mean electron density at fixed heights indicate regular negative responses to the SSW temperature pulses at high latitudes. Similar response is found for the diurnal variability of the COSMIC electron density. The response is confined mainly to low and middle latitudes. A possible mechanism causing the observed negative ionospheric response is suggested.

► This is the first study to present experimental evidence of changes in the mean electron density and in the diurnal component as an ionospheric response to sudden stratospheric warmings (SSW).
► Study demonstrates repeatability of these changes in several different SSW events.
► The idea, equatorial plasma drifts are related to lower thermospheric temperature increase at high-latitude during SSW events, is a new interpretation that presents the result in the context of “disturbed dynamo”.