QBO imprint on ionosphere-thermosphere

The Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) is a dominant mode of stratospheric variability and is known to contribute to interannual variability in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. However, the extent of its impact on the ionosphere–thermosphere system and the associated coupling mechanisms remains an active area of research. This study quantifies the QBO's influence on the ionosphere–thermosphere system using a diverse set of observations, including global ionosonde networks, TIMED/GUVI data, GNSS satellites, and ground-based magnetic field measurements. Our results show that the QBO’s influence extends beyond the tropics, affecting ionosphere at low and mid-latitudes. We also discuss potential coupling pathways linking stratospheric QBO variability to ionospheric responses.