A Quantitative Assessment of Vertical Wave Energy Flux and Global Wave Power Due To Upward Propagating Tides Based on TIMED Observations

Abstract We quantify the vertical wave energy flux and global wave power due to upward propagating tides in the 80–200 km altitude range, based on observations. Our approach utilizes fluid dynamical equations, and Hough Mode Extension (HME) fits to tidal wind and temperatures observed by the TIDI and SABER instruments on board the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite. The global annual mean vertical energy flux due to diurnal and semidiurnal migrating and non‐migrating tides for the year 2009 (solar minimum conditions) is about 10−5 W/m2 or equivalent to 5 GW of global wave power at 100 km. Observation‐based wave energy flux values for the migrating diurnal and semidiurnal tidal components DW1 and SW2 for spring 2009 equinox conditions compare well with SD‐WACCM‐X predicted values but are somewhat smaller than early theoretical results. We find that SW2 is the most dominant tidal component contributing to wave energy throughout the thermosphere.