| Observations suggest that short-term variability in the thermosphere and
ionosphere can be driven by meteorological perturbations such as planetary
waves and gravity waves. The mechanism of this driving, however, is not yet
well understood. This talk will review some of our recent efforts in this
aspect. In particular, TIME-GCM simulations have shown that the total electron
contents (TEC) and peak F2 layer electron density can vary rather significantly
in response to transient planetary waves and secondary generation of gravity
waves in the thermosphere. We will present a detailed analysis of the
key dynamical and electrodynamical processes that produce the thermospheric
and ionospheric variability. |