Spectral analysis of planetary waves seen in ionospheric total electron content (TEC): First results using GPS differential TEC and stratospheric reanalyses

The coupling of the neutral atmosphere and the ionosphere through planetary waves (PW) (zonal wavenumber 0–5) is investigated by spherical harmonic analyses of the ionospheric total electron content (TEC). These analyses detect mean variations, standing and travelling waves which are assumed to be signatures of PW. Database used for TEC analyses are 3 years of hourly TEC maps covering the higher middle and polar latitudes. They are regularly produced by DLR Neustrelitz. The obtained results are compared with PW analyses using NCEP/NCAR and Met Office stratospheric reanalyses. Case studies show that signatures of PW occur simultaneously in the middle atmosphere and ionosphere.