Publications related to the GRACE Missions (no abstracts)

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Solar Terminator Waves Revealed as Dominant Features of Upper Thermospheric Density

Fitzpatrick, D. J., Sutton, E. K., Pilinski, M. D., and Palo, S. E., 2025. Solar Terminator Waves Revealed as Dominant Features of Upper Thermospheric Density. Geophysical Research Letters, 52(11):e2025GL115612, doi:10.1029/2025GL115612.

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@ARTICLE{2025GeoRL..5215612F,
       author = {{Fitzpatrick}, D.~J. and {Sutton}, E.~K. and {Pilinski}, M.~D. and {Palo}, S.~E.},
        title = "{Solar Terminator Waves Revealed as Dominant Features of Upper Thermospheric Density}",
      journal = {\grl},
     keywords = {solar terminator waves, thermosphere, CHAMP, GRACE-FO, HASDM, winter helium bulge},
         year = 2025,
        month = jun,
       volume = {52},
       number = {11},
          eid = {e2025GL115612},
        pages = {e2025GL115612},
     abstract = "{Observations of solar terminator waves (STWs) in thermospheric mass
        density (TMD) measurements above 500 km reveal STWs as dominant
        features of the upper thermosphere. While previous
        investigations have shown that STWs in the middle-lower
        thermosphere have amplitudes on the order of 6\%{\textendash}8\%
        of the background TMD in that region, this study shows that STWs
        exhibit a striking amplification with altitude, producing
        density perturbations of up to a factor of two near 500 km. The
        study analyzes STWs in TMD data across altitude, solar cycle,
        and both solstices, leveraging a direct comparative methodology
        with Challenging Minisatellite Payload, Gravity Recovery and
        Climate Experiment Follow-On, and High-Accuracy Satellite Drag
        Model. The first detection of a dawn STW with a magnitude
        comparable to dusk is made near 500 km, contrasting the
        asymmetry seen at lower altitudes. The newfound prominence of
        STWs highlights the need for further research into their
        generation mechanisms, role in geophysical variability, and
        broader implications for thermospheric modeling and spacecraft
        operations.}",
          doi = {10.1029/2025GL115612},
       adsurl = {https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025GeoRL..5215612F},
      adsnote = {Provided by the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System}
}

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