Measuring meridional mesospheric winds with the AMOR meteor radar

The AMOR meteor radar can measure meridional winds in the meteoric region of 80–120 km with excellent spatial resolution. This paper gives details of the Doppler section of the AMOR system. Analysis techniques are described that enable the use of very short-lived echoes, which when combined with the high sensitivity of the AMOR radar provides a large data set of wind measurements. Results for a 5 day period are presented at various heights indicating a vertically propagating semi-diurnal tide.     

Long-term tendencies in the MLT prevailing winds and tides over Antarctica as observed by radars at Molodezhnaya,Mawson and Davis

Long-term tendencies in horizontal neutral wind parameters in the southern polar mesosphere/lower thermosphere are presented. The wind data analyzed were obtained from meteor and MF radars situated at Molodezhnaya (45.9°E, 67.7°S), Mawson (62.9°E, 67.6°S) and Davis (78.0°E, 68.6°S). The composite dataset covers years from 1970 to 2006. A Bayesian approach in the form proposed by Wang and Zivot [2000. A Bayesian time series model of multiple structural changes in level, trend and variance. Journal of Business and Economic Statistics 8, 374–386] is used for the trend assessment. This approach allows structural breaks to be identified in the trend parameters (slope, mean or variance of residuals) or demonstrates their absence. The results of our analysis have shown persistence through such structural breaks in trends of the winter and summer prevailing winds and in meridional tidal components. It is demonstrated that the wind parameters exhibit different stable states with transitions between the states. Correlations between the southern polar MLT wind and indices of atmospheric variability (Northern annular mode, Southern annular mode, Multivariate El-Niño/Southern Oscillation Index) were then considered. The results show that statistically significant correlations exist during some periods of observations that do not exist during others.     

Observations of 7-d planetary waves with MLT radars and the UARS-HRDI instrument

Long period variations in the mesosphere wind have been observed for some time by ground-based radars. These planetary scale disturbances have reoccurring periods at or near 5–7, 10, and 16 days and at times dominate the wind field at mesospheric heights. Recently, due to the continuous operation of several of the MLT radars and the availability of measurements from the UARS satellite, it has been possible to compare observations during periods of large planetary wave activity. Wind measurements from four MLT radars; the meteor radars at Durham, NH (43°N,71°W) and Sheffield, UK (53°N,2°W) and MF radars at Urbana, IL (40°N,88°W) and Saskatoon, Canada (52°N,107°W) were compared with the HRDI measurements during intervals when 7-d planetary waves were present. Wind data from the HRDI instrument on UARS has been processed to show the latitudinal structure and the seasonal variation of the planetary scale wind variation. The phases and amplitudes of the waves as determined by both the satellite and the radars are in good agreement. The ground-based measurements show large modulation of tides by these long period components, and also show comparable responses of these low frequency components over thousands of kilometers. The satellite and the ground-based results both indicate a preponderance of wave occurrence during the equinoxes and at preferred latitudes.     

MJO与中间层-低热层风场潮汐DE3季节内变化性的关联

本文结合TIMED-TIDI卫星与流星雷达子午链风场观测数据,分析了中间层-低热层（MLT）区域非迁移潮汐DE3的季节内变化性及其与对流层MJO的可能关联.结果揭示了DE3风场潮汐广泛存在显著的宽频带季节内变化信号,且强度存在季节依赖.纬向风DE3潮汐（DE3-U）季节内变化在北半球冬季具有较强幅值,可达季节平均的1~2倍,而在其他季节通常在20%以内.结合MJO指数进一步讨论了不同季节下DE3-U对MJO的响应.统计结果表明,在影响较大的北半球冬季,DE3-U通常在MJO第4—6位相时有更大的幅值（+10%~+40%）,而在其余位相时更小（-10%~-40%）.这表明对流层与MJO相关的对流活动通过潜热释放的纬向变化可影响高空大气非迁移潮汐的强度.

     

On the application of a proposed global system for measuring meteor winds

Summary This paper discusses the need for a global network of meteor wind stations for determining the general circulation of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Continuous observations of horizontal motions from such a network would permit resolution of planetary scale eddy winds, tides, and gravity waves, and hypotheses that such motions propagate vertically from the lower atmosphere or are generated in situ by solar activity could be examined critically with observational data. The observed mean winds from the lower stratosphere to the meteor wind level are summarized to support the hypothesis that a standing wave pattern in the winds extends into the lower thermosphere. Data on tidal meridional momentum transports from meteor wind stations suggest that tides in the lower thermosphere are important for the maintenance of mean winds. Some of the geomagnetic and photochemical processes in the lower thermosphere that could be investigated with meteor wind data are briefly reviewed.This paper is adapted from our presentation at the 1966 Fall URSI meeting at Palo Alto, California     

Comparisons between Canadian prairie MF radars, FPI (green and OH lines) and UARS HRDI systems

Detailed comparisons have been completed between the MF radars (MFR) in the Canadian prairies and three other systems: two ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPI) and the UARS high resolution Doppler imager (HRDI) system. The radars were at Sylvan Lake (52°N, 114°W), Robsart (49°N, 109°W) and the main continuing facility is at Saskatoon (52°N, 107°W). Statistical comparisons of hourly mean winds (1988–1992) for the Saskatoon MFR and FPI (557.7 nm green line) using scatter plots, wind speed-ratios, and direction-difference histograms show excellent agreement for Saskatoon. No serious biases in speeds or directions occur at the height of best agreement, 98 km. If anything, the MFR speeds appear bigger. The same applies to the Sylvan Lake MFR and Calgary FPI, where the best height is 88 km. In both cases these are close to the preferred heights for the emission layers. Differences between measurements seen on individual days are likely related to the influence of gravity waves (GW) upon the optical and radar systems, each of which have inherent spatial averaging (350, 50 km respectively), as well as the spatial difference between the nominal measurement locations. For HRDI, similar statistical comparisons are made, using single-overpass satellite winds and hourly means (to improve data quality) from MFR. Heights of best agreement, based upon direction-difference histograms, are shown; there is a tendency, beginning near 87 km, for these MFR heights to be 2 or 3 km greater than the HRDI heights. Speeds at these heights are typically larger for the satellite (MFR/HRDI = 0.7-0.8). Reasons for the differences are investigated. It is shown that the estimated errors and short-term (90 min) differences are larger for HRDI than for the MFR, indicating more noise or GW contamination. This leads to modest but significant differences in median speed-ratio (MFR/HRDI < 1). Also, comparison of the two systems is made under conditions when they agree best and when they show large disagreement. For the latter cases both systems show higher relative errors, and the HRDI vectors are frequently small. It is suggested that spatial or temporal GW wind fluctuations are the likely cause of the larger HRDI-MFR disagreement when wind speeds are small. No satisfactory explanation exists for the overall discrepancy is speeds between the MFR and HRDI.     

东亚MLT区域平均纬向风再评估——WINDII测量分析结果

本文利用1991年11月至1997年8月期间美国WINDII/UARS获得的风场测量数据对东亚上空纬向风进行考察. 研究结果给出了位于120°E 子午圈中90～120 km之间平均纬向风的典型结构及其季节特征,与在武汉开展流星雷达探测结果进行比较的结果说明卫星测量分析结果在对季节特征的描述方面与地基测量有相当好的一致性;较好的一致性还表现在与过去从HRDI/UARS数据中得到的月平均纬向风. 这些说明卫星探测结果有相当好的代表性. 与国际标准大气CIRA-86月平均纬向风开展比较的结果显示,从100 km高度开始这两种卫星数据分析结果都与CIRA-86结果表现出严重偏离,例如在赤道和低纬度地区某些高度,CIRA-86纬向风在全年的大部分时段中表现出与卫星数据分析结果风向不一致. 分析结果还显示WINDII纬向风和HRDI纬向风分析结果之间表现出一个幅度约20 m·s^-1的系统偏差,考虑到本文分析过程中采用了通过归并36天测量数据来消除周日变化影响的方案,同时参考其他研究工作中对MLT纬向风周日潮幅度的描述,两种卫星数据分析结果之间的系统偏差可能部分来自大气潮汐的影响.     

Global Dynamics of the MLT

The transition between the middle atmosphere and the thermosphere is known as the MLT region (for mesosphere and lower thermosphere). This area has some characteristics that set it apart from other regions of the atmosphere. Most notably, it is the altitude region with the lowest overall temperature and has the unique characteristic that the temperature is much lower in summer than in winter. The summer-to-winter-temperature gradient is the result of adiabatic cooling and warming associated with a vigorous circulation driven primarily by gravity waves. Tides and planetary waves also contribute to the circulation and to the large dynamical variability in the MLT. The past decade has seen much progress in describing and understanding the dynamics of the MLT and the interactions of dynamics with chemistry and radiation. This review describes recent observations and numerical modeling as they relate to understanding the dynamical processes that control the MLT and its variability. Results from the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), which is a comprehensive high-top general circulation model with interactive chemistry, are used to illustrate the dynamical processes. Selected observations from the Sounding the Atmosphere with Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument are shown for comparison. WACCM simulations of MLT dynamics have some differences with observations. These differences and other questions and discrepancies described in recent papers point to a number of ongoing uncertainties about the MLT dynamical system.     

Intercalibration of HRDI and WINDII wind measurements

The High Resolution Doppler Imager (HRDI) and the Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) instruments, which are both on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, measure winds by sensing the Doppler shift in atmospheric emission features. Because the two observation sets are frequently nearly coincident in space and time, each provides a very effective validation test of the other. Discrepancies due to geophysical differences should be much smaller than for comparisons with other techniques (radars, rockets, etc.), and the very large sizes of the coincident data sets provide excellent statistics for the study. Issues that have been examined include relative systematic offsets and the wind magnitudes obtained with the two systems. A significant zero wind position difference of 6 m s^–1 is identified for the zonal component, and it appears that this arises from an absolute perturbation in WINDII winds of -4 m s^–1 and in HRDI of +2 m s^–1. Altitude offsets appear to be relatively small, and do not exceed 1 km. In addition, no evidence is found for the existence of a systematic wind speed bias between HRDI and WINDII. However, considerable day-to-day variability is found in the quality of the agreement, and RMS differences are surprisingly large, typically in the range of 20-30 m s^–1.     

Modeling the diurnal tide with dissipation derived from UARS/HRDI measurements

This paper uses dissipation values derived from UARS/HRDI observations in a recently published diurnal-tide model. These model structures compare quite well with the UARS/HRDI observations with respect to the annual variation of the diurnal tidal amplitudes and the size of the amplitudes themselves. It is suggested that the annual variation of atmospheric dissipation in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere is a major controlling factor in determining the annual variation of the diurnal tide.     

Observation of 6.5-day waves in the MLT region over Wuhan

In this paper, the 6.5-day planetary waves over Wuhan (30.5°N, 114.3°E) were investigated on the basis of the meteor radar measurements within 78–98 km height region during February 2002–December 2005. The observations show that 6.5-day waves have a prominent seasonal variability and have larger amplitudes at equinoxes than at solstices. We also found that intensive waves occur mostly between 84 and 98 km, and the zonal components of 6.5-day waves are a little larger than its meridional components on average. The main periods of 6.5-day waves are near 6–7 days in spring/winter season and 5–7 days (even extend to 8 days) in autumn months. However, these waves exhibit a downward progression when the amplitude is large. Robust wave events occur basically in eastward background winds. During the 4-year interval, the strongest waves were found in Apri–-May of 2003 and 2004.     

Interannual variability of mesospheric mean winds observed with the MU radar

In an effort to study the interannual variation of mesospheric (65–90 km altitude) mean winds, 10 years (1986–1995) of wind data collected with the MU radar at Shigaraki, Japan (34.9°N, 136.1°E) have been analysed. The analysis reveals that the mean zonal wind circulation in the mesosphere is dominated by an annual variation. The summer westward flow in the mesosphere shows a smooth variation with a peak value in the range 40–60 m/s in June/July. In contrast to the summer westward winds, the winter eastward winds exhibit much more variability. In some years it is found that the winds exceed even 60 m/s and the peak value may occur in any one of the winter months. Scrutiny of the duration of the summer westward winds reveals a two-year periodicity, which has been compared with the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) phases at the equator. The search for a dependence of the mean wind on solar activity does not reveal any indications of it. Ten-year averaged winds are compared with the model atmosphere, CIRA-86, values and certain agreements and disagreements are pointed out.     

Relativistic magnetohydrodynamic winds of finite temperature

Abstract

The singular differential equations for finite temperature relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) winds integrate to two algebraic equations when the source magnetic field is a monopole. This simplification enables an extensive characterization of the asymptotic wind solutions in terms of source parameters. We will consider only the critical solutions-those that pass smoothly through both an intermediate (Alfvenic) and a fast MHD critical point and expand to zero pressure at infinite radial distance from the source. Because the constants of motion must be specified to extremely high accuracy, the critical solutions cannot be found analytically. Synopsis of many numerical solutions reveals a uniform parametric characterization of the asymptotic wind in terms of one combination of source parameters, Z, the mean source particle energy divided by mc²[sgrave]^½, where [sgrave] is a generalization of Michel's (1969) cold relativistic wind strength parameter. Cool winds, with Z<1, behave asymptotically much as Michel's cold wind minimum torque solution; Z1 hot winds have quite different, but simply characterized, asymptotic solutions. Thus, the strength of magnetized relativistic outflows can depend critically upon the temperature of the source.     

Seasonal variabilities of low-latitude mesospheric winds

Observations of mesospheric winds over a period of four years with the partial reflection radar at Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.8°E), India, are presented in this study. The emphasis is on describing seasonal variabilities in mean zonal and meridional winds in the altitude region 70–98 km. The meridional winds exhibit overall transequatorial flow associated with differential heating in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. At lower altitudes (70–80 km) the mean zonal winds reveal easterly flow during summer and westerly flow during winter, as expected from a circulation driven by solar forcing. In the higher altitude regime (80–98 km) and at all altitudes during equinox periods, the mean zonal flow is subjected to the semi-annual oscillation (SAO). The interannual variability detected in the occurrence of SAO over Tirunelveli has also been observed in the data sets obtained from the recent UARS satellite mission. Harmonic analysis results over a period of two years indicate the presence of long-period oscillations in the mean zonal wind at specific harmonic periods near 240, 150 and 120 days. Results presented in this study are discussed in the context of current understanding of equatorial wave propagation.     

Pulse-level interference and meteor processing of Arecibo ISR data

We introduce a simple but effective order statistics filter for the pulse-level interference and meteor processing of Arecibo ionosphere observation data. Using this filter and the techniques introduced by Wen et al. [2005. Adaptive filtering for the separation of incoherent scatter and meteor signals for Arecibo Observation Data. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 67, 1190–1195] we effectively remove/separate the unwanted signals, such as impulsive interference and meteor returns, encountered during incoherent scatter radar (ISR) observations of the ionosphere. We further analyze the separated signals to obtain uniquely “cleaned” incoherent scatter power data and scientifically valuable meteor parameters. We present the processed incoherent scatter results from 22/23 March 2004 observations and the altitude and the speed distributions of the separated meteor signals. The nighttime photochemical E-region is clearly revealed for the first time as a result of meteor and interference removal. Additionally, these results reveal the first major bias in large aperture radar meteor headecho results—the meteor speed distribution is flattened by the absence of at least 50% of the events with duration less than 10 ms revealed by meteor-specific observations. Meteor data derived from standard incoherent scatter data always displays this bias.     

Statistical observations of the MLT, latitude and size of pulsed ionospheric flows with the CUTLASS Finland radar

A study has been performed on the occurrence of pulsed ionospheric flows as detected by the CUTLASS Finland HF radar. These flows have been suggested as being created at the ionospheric footprint of newly-reconnected field lines, during episodes of magnetic flux transfer into the terrestrial magnetosphere (flux transfer events or FTEs). Two years of both high-time resolution and normal scan data from the CUTLASS Finland radar have been analysed in order to perform a statistical study of the extent and location of the pulsed ionospheric flows. We note a great similarity between the statistical pattern of the coherent radar observations of pulsed ionospheric flows and the traditional low-altitude satellite identification of the particle signature associated with the cusp/cleft region. However, the coherent scatter radar observations suggest that the merging gap is far wider than that proposed by the Newell and Meng model. The new model for cusp low-altitude particle signatures, proposed by Lockwood and Onsager and Lockwood provides a unified framework to explain the dayside precipitation regimes observed both by the low-altitude satellites and by coherent scatter radar detection.     

东经120°E中间层和低热层大气潮汐及其季节变化特征

利用为期一年的卫星遥感温度（SABER/TIMED）资料重建了120°E子午圈内中间层和低热层大气潮汐各主要频率分量（周日、半日和8小时潮汐）.这些主要频率分量随高度振幅增大，在97 km高度达到显著的振幅；其中迁移性周日潮汐在97 km高度出现极大振幅，然后随高度衰减.本文从考察迁移性成分和非迁移性成分各自在总潮汐中贡献角度出发，着重讨论了那些对形成该子午圈中97 km高度上整体潮汐扰动起控制作用的潮汐成分.结果显示，对周日和半日频率这两种潮汐而言，迁移性成分控制了它们的总体时空分布.在春分季节，迁移性周日潮的控制作用最显著，决定了赤道和两半球热带的活动中心；其中北半球副热带地区的季节变化形势与以往利用武汉（30°N，114°E）流星雷达风测量资料开展分析得到的结果是一致的；其他季节受非迁移性成分明显影响，例如，在本文关注的2005年中，夏至季节受（1，0）模、（1，-3）模和（1，-2）模的共同影响形成了从赤道向南延伸的活动中心，极值中心位于赤道附近，振幅达到了20 K以上，是全年的最大值.受迁移性成分控制，半日潮活动主要出现在两半球热带地区，北半球活动中心位于秋分季节（振幅达到13 K），南半球活动中心位于春分和夏至之间.其他季节受非迁移成分的影响，形成若干分布在两半球的活动中心.在本文关注的40°S～40°N范围内，与周日潮和半日潮相比，8小时潮汐具有显著较低的振幅；另外，虽然迁移性成分在一年中的大部分时间系统地分布在两半球热带地区，但是非迁移成分具有与迁移性成分相当或更大的振幅，在整体上控制了这种潮汐的时空分布.     

Large-eddy simulation of katabatic winds. Part 1: Comparison with observations

Steady-state quasi-one-dimensional large-eddy simulations of slope winds over simple terrain are presented. The model results of up-slope flow are compared to previous simulations by Schumann (1990), and good agreement is found. Modelled downslope winds are compared to meteorological observations from two glaciers. The vertical profiles of velocity and buoyancy agree with the observations, whereas larger discrepancies are found between the modelled and the observed momentum and buoyancy flux profiles. Despite some discrepancies, the model captures the main characteristics of the observed downslope winds fairly well. The numerical model is used in a companion paper (Part II) to study how some external input parameters affect katabatic winds.     

Midlatitude mesopause region winds and waves and comparison with stratospheric variability

We present time series of January–May mean mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) mean winds and planetary wave (PW) proxies over Europe together with stratospheric stationary planetary waves (SPW) at 50°N and time series of European ozone laminae occurrence. The MLT winds are connected with stratospheric PW and laminae at time scales of several years to decades. There is a tendency for increased wave activity after 1990, together with more ozone laminae and stronger MLT zonal winds. However, possible coupling processes are not straightforward. While mean MLT winds before the 1990s show similar interannual variations than stratospheric PW at 100 hPa, later a tendency towards a connection of the MLT with the middle stratosphere SPW is registered. There is also a tendency for a change in the correlation between lower and middle stratosphere SPW, indicating that coupling processes involving the European middle atmosphere from the lower stratosphere to the mesopause region have changed.