Response of nitric oxide(NO) to high-speed solar wind stream in high-latitude lower thermosphere and mesosphere

Abstract

Electron precipitation from the Earth's inner magnetosphere transfers solar wind energy to the upper atmosphere and at last may affect climate change. Here we conduct an analyze on NO production at high-latitude upper atmosphere due to precipitating electrons during high­speed solar wind stream (HSS) for northern wintertime of 2007-2008. Fluxes of precipitating E > 30 keV and E> 300keV electrons increase immediately in association with HSS onset and remains elevated during the passage of the HSS. Response of NO concentration to HSS is seen to down 50km altitude at nighttime but 80km altitude at daytime. The difference in the penetration depth of HSS effect may be attributed to the longer lifetime of NO at nighttime in no presence of sunlight until its reaching 50 km. The results of this study can contribute to a better understanding of the direct/indirect effects of HSS on the NO chemistry change in the upper atmosphere.