Analysis of Neutral Wind Shears in the Low Thermosphere
Using upper atmospheric simulation data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, we describe the morphology and behavior of neutral wind shears in the low thermosphere. We also analyze trends in the Richardson number (Ri) to investigate areas of dynamic instability, such as Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities, which are a mechanism for the transport of mass and energy between the mesosphere and thermosphere.
Intern: Maya Kirshtein
Mentors: Ryan Poffenbarger, Rebecca Wind-Kelly, and Rafael Mesquita (SES)