Thermospheric Gravity Waves.pdf

Data from Fabry-Perot Interferometers at KEOPS, Sodankylä, and Svalbard were analyzed for gravity wave activity from 2000 to 2006. A total of 567 nights were available, with 249 from KEOPS, 133 from Sodankylä, and 185 from Svalbard. A Lomb-Scargle analysis was performed to identify wave periods, and comparisons were made between different parameters, including atomic oxygen intensities, thermospheric winds, and temperatures.

No dependence on geomagnetic activity levels or solar cycle position was found. The time resolution of the data, affected by different detectors, influenced the detection of short-period waves (<1 h). The length of the dataset, typically determined by the night length, affected the detection of long-period waves (>5 h).

Comparisons between KEOPS and Sodankylä showed similar wave proportions, as expected due to their similar latitudes and auroral oval locations. Svalbard showed fewer short-period waves, indicating the direction of gravity wave flow and suggesting the auroral oval as the source region. The study provides statistical analysis of thermospheric gravity waves, determining their frequency, periods, and influencing factors.