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We present the results of complex obser-vations of various parameters of the middle and upper atmosphere over Siberia in December 2012 – January 2013, during a major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event. We analyze variations in ozone concentration from microwave measurements, in stratosphere and lower mesosphere temperatures from lidar and satellite measurements, in the F2-layer critical frequency (foF2), in the total electron content (TEC), as well as in the ratio of concentrations of atomic oxygen to molecular nitrogen (O/N2) in the thermosphere. To interpret the observed disturbances in the upper atmosphere, the experimental measurements are compared with the results of model calculations obtained with the Global Self-consistent Model of Thermosphere—Ionosphere—Protonosphere (GSM TIP). The response of the upper atmosphere to the SSW event is shown to be a decrease in foF2 and TEC during the evolution of the warming event and a prolonged increase in O/N2, foF2, and TEC after the SSW maximum. For the first time, we observe the relation between the increase in stratospheric ozone, thermospheric O/N2, and ionospheric electron density for a fairly long time (up to 20 days) after the SSW maximum at midlatitudes.

We have considered the influence of the January 23–27, 2009 sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event on HF radio wave propagation in the equatorial ionosphere. This event took place during extremely low solar and geomagnetic activity. We use the simulation results obtained with the Global Self-consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere and Protonosphere (GSM TIP) for simulating environmental changes during the SSW event. We both qualitatively and quantitatively reproduced total electron content disturbances obtained from global ground network receiver observations of GPS navigation satellite signals, by setting an additional electric potential and TIME-GCM model output at a height of 80 km. In order to study the influence of this SSW event on HF radio wave propagation and attenuation, we used the numerical model of radio wave propagation based on geometrical optics approximation. It is shown that the sudden stratospheric warming leads to radio signal attenuation and deterioration of radio communication in the daytime equatorial ionosphere.