Large Long-Lived Vertical Wind Oscillations in the Mesosphere and Thermosphere Regions

The question of why large vertical winds might commonly occur within the mesosphere and thermosphere regions has not received much attention or study in space physics. The issue is that observations made by several measurement techniques have demonstrated the frequent detection of events featuring large vertical wind and temperature fluctuations that far exceed what theoretical analysis and some modeling simulations suggest might be expected for the given circumstances.

The primary goal of this Research Topic is to call attention to an outstanding problem that has not received the close scrutiny that is needed to achieve a detailed understanding of the forcing functions that underlies the production of these large sustained vertical winds. The papers that we anticipate in this collection would bring together the best possible theoretical considerations and model simulations together with the analysis of high-quality vertical wind observations that indicate in more precise detail the nature of the discrepancy between data and theory. While forcing by gravity wave propagation and Joule heating from below or from the high latitude region has been invoked as a possible explanation, theoretical considerations and model simulations have not succeeded in achieving the closure by which these two forcing functions successfully replicates the vertical wind observations. Of particular interest would be papers demonstrating that the current theory of fluid dynamics for the thermosphere medium fails to predict the relationship between the observed vertical wind and the measured horizontal convergence/divergence. Papers addressing the question of normal vertical wind behavior would also be desirable. We would also appreciate contributions related to the implications of these events on other fields.

The Editors invite contributions that focus on, but are not limited to, the following:

• Measurement techniques: We expect papers to be submitted reporting on vertical wind measurements obtained by Fabry Perot interferometers, incoherent and coherent scatter radars, and chemical release triangulation results as well as vertical wind data obtained by satellite instrumentation such as mass spectrometers and accelerometers.

• Theoretical insights: Results from the application of a state-of-the-art general circulation model and direct numerical simulations are solicited as well. Papers considering fluid dynamics constraints are also welcomed.

• Impacts and applications: Analysis of these events is expected to be a significant test of our understanding of the fluid dynamics in both mesosphere and thermosphere regions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Vertical winds, atmospheric dynamics, gravity waves, beyond hydrostatic approximation, optical instrumentation, radar instrumentation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.