Distortion of thermospheric air masses

What is it about?

To study the distortion in thermosphere air masses associated with any gradients present in thermospheric wind field, we have defined a new parameter called "distortion gradient (Dg)". In this study, by using Dg, we have discussed how distortion in thermospheric air masses at auroral latitudes changes with the change in seasons, geomagnetic activity, and interplanetary magnetic field.

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Why is it important?

To study the distortion in thermosphere air masses associated with any gradients present in thermospheric wind field, we have defined a new parameter called "distortion gradient (Dg)". Dg includes all contributions to non-uniform horizontal flow, including all first order gradients and any higher-order perturbations. Dg is always positive, whereas conventional gradients (or linear combinations of gradients) can be negative or positive. Climatological averaging of conventional gradients will therefore likely underestimate distortion effects, whereas Dg is not subject to this problem. This study, for the first time, shows how the distortion in thermospheric air masses at auroral latitudes changes with the change in seasons, geomagnetic activity, and interplanetary magnetic field.