Observation and simulation of the ionosphere disturbance waves triggered by rocket exhausts

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics Vol. 122; no. 8; pp. 8868 - 8882
• Main Authors: Lin, Charles C. H., Chen, Chia‐Hung, Matsumura, Mitsuru, Lin, Jia‐Ting, Kakinami, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-08-2017
• Subjects: acoustic wave reflection; Acoustic waves; Acoustics; Atmospheric models; Computer simulation; delayed disturbance waves; Depletion; Disturbance; Disturbances; Electron density; Ionosphere; ionospheric disturbance waves; Mathematical models; Numerical simulations; Qualitative analysis; Rocket exhaust; Rocket launches; Shape; Shock waves; Simulation; Total Electron Content; Trajectories; V‐shape shock acoustic waves; Wave disturbances; Wave fronts; Wave propagation; Wave reflection
• ISSN: 2169-9380; 2169-9402
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JA023951

Observations and theoretical modeling of the ionospheric disturbance waves generated by rocket launches are investigated. During the rocket passage, time rate change of total electron content (rTEC) enhancement with the V‐shape shock wave signature is commonly observed, followed by acoustic wave disturbances and region of negative rTEC centered along the trajectory. Ten to fifteen min after the rocket passage, delayed disturbance waves appeared and propagated along direction normal to the V‐shape wavefronts. These observation features appeared most prominently in the 2016 North Korea rocket launch showing a very distinct V‐shape rTEC enhancement over enormous areas along the southeast flight trajectory despite that it was also appeared in the 2009 North Korea rocket launch with the eastward flight trajectory. Numerical simulations using the physical‐based nonlinear and nonhydrostatic coupled model of neutral atmosphere and ionosphere reproduce promised results in qualitative agreement with the characteristics of ionospheric disturbance waves observed in the 2009 event by considering the released energy of the rocket exhaust as the disturbance source. Simulations reproduce the shock wave signature of electron density enhancement, acoustic wave disturbances, the electron density depletion due to the rocket‐induced pressure bulge, and the delayed disturbance waves. The pressure bulge results in outward neutral wind flows carrying neutrals and plasma away from it and leading to electron density depletions. Simulations further show, for the first time, that the delayed disturbance waves are produced by the surface reflection of the earlier arrival acoustic wave disturbances.
Key Points
Ionospheric TEC perturbations show features of the V‐shape shock acoustic wave, region of depletion, and the delayed disturbance waves
Simulations considering energy released by rocket exhaust reproduce the observations of ionospheric disturbance waves qualitatively
The delayed disturbance waves generated due to ground reflection of earlier acoustic waves are simulated for the first time