Modeling the day-to-day variability of midnight Equatorial Plasma Bubbles with SAMI3/SD-WACCM-X

We investigate the role of gravity waves on upwelling growth and EPB development and discuss how gravity waves contribute to the distributions of EPBs. We found the westward wind associated with solar terminator waves and gravity waves induces polarization electric fields that map to the equatorial ionosphere from higher latitudes, resulting in midnight vertical drift enhancement and retrograde plasma flow. The upward vertical drift and retrograde flow further lead to shear flow instability and midnight plasma vortex, creating background conditions identical to the post-sunset ionosphere.

This provides conditions favorable for the upwelling growth and EPB development. The converging and diverging winds associated with solar terminator waves and midnight temperature maximum also affect the longitudinal distribution of EPBs. The absence of EPBs on October 22 is related to the weak westward wind associated with solar terminator waves.