Wang fei fei

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Ionospheric response to sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) are not well understood. During the 2013 SSW, ionospheric disturbances were observed in eighteen stations on three meridional chains of 100°E, 110°E and 120°E ranging from 19.03°N to 49.21°N at latitudes over East Asia region. The TEC response showed evident semi-diurnal disturbance that enhancement in the morning and depletion in the afternoon. The maximum TEC increased by more than 220% on the chain 120°E. In addition, the semi-diurnal disturbance of TEC were enhanced and indicated evident latitudinal and longitudinal dependence. The wavelet spectra of semi-diurnal disturbance in TEC presented quasi-16 day planetary wave-like oscillations at middle latitudes and quasi-10 day planetary wave-like oscillations at low latitudes. Meanwhile, the zonal winds and meridional winds at altitudes of 92-100 km showed quasi-16 day planetary wave at Mohe located middle latitude and quasi-10 day planetary wave at Sanya located low latitude, which are agree with semi-diurnal disturbance of TEC. Especially, the 12-hour component of TEC showed a quasi-16 day periodic component at middle latitude and a quasi-10 day periodic component at low latitude, indicating that the modulated semi-diurnal tides may transmit these 10 day and 16 day planetary wave-like oscillations to the ionosphere. The coupling between the atmosphere and ionosphere may be strengthened by the quasi-16 day waves at middle latitude and quasi-10 day waves at low latitude. This can further confirm the PW-tide interaction theory during the 2013 SSW and it is of significance in the middle and low latitude ionospheric response to SSW.