The Response of Quasi-Two-Day Waves to the 2013 Major Stratospheric Sudden Warming Over Low-Latitude Region

The stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) is an important phenomenon in which the stratospheric temperature in the high latitude region suddenly rises of several K in a few days. This phenomenon can strongly affect the dynamics and thermal balance in the middle atmosphere and/or the near space region. Past observational and modelling studies have shown the influence of SSWs, but the impact of SSWs on the quasi-two-day waves (Q2DWs) has not been fully understood. In this study, we report the response of Q2DWs in the low-latitude mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region to the 2013 major SSW. The quasi-two-day waves are observed by the Kunming (25.6°N, 103.8°E) meteor radar. The 2013 SSW is identified by the ModernEra Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis dataset. The observation provides a clear enhancement of the amplitudes of Q2DWs in both zonal and meridional wind components during the 2013 major SSW. Besides, the SSW can also affect the horizontal winds in the low-latitude MLT region. This finding provides a valuable insight to better understand the coupling between stratosphere and mesosphere.