The quasi-two-day wave studied using the Northern Hemisphere SuperDARN HF radars

Abstract

Data from the Super Dual Radar Network (SuperDARN) radars for 2002 were used to study the behaviour of the quasi-two-day wave (QTDW) in the Northern Hemisphere auroral zone. The period of the QTDW is observed to vary in the range of ∼42–56 h, with the most dominant period being ∼48 h and secondary peaks at ∼42- and ∼52-h. The spectral power shows a seasonal variation with a peak power (max∼70) in summer. The power shows variations of several days and there is also evidence of changes in wave strength with longitude. The 42-h and the 48-h components tend to be strongly correlated in summer. The onset of enhanced wave activity tends to coincide with the westward acceleration of the zonal mean flow and occurs at a time of strong southward meridional flow. The most frequent instantaneous hourly period is in the 40 to 50 h period band, in line with the simultaneous dominance of the 42-h and the 48-h components. The wave numbers are less variable and are around −2 to −4 during times of strong wave activity. For a period of ∼48 h, the zonal wave number is about −3 to −4, using a negative value to indicate westward propagating waves. The 42-h and the 52-h components cover a wider band in the −4 to 1 range. The wide zonal wave number spectrum in our results may account for the observed longitudinal variation in the spectral power of the wave.