Mesopause temperatures and relative densities at midlatitudes observed by the Mengcheng meteor radar

The atmospheric temperatures and densities in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere(MLT)region are essential for studying the dynamics and climate of the middle and upper atmosphere.In this study,we present more than 9 years of mesopause temperatures and relative densities estimated by using ambipolar diffusion coefficient measurements observed by the Mengcheng meteor radar(33.4°N,116.5°E).The intercomparison between the meteor radar and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Sounding of the Atmosphere by Broadband Emission Radiometry(TIMED/SABER)and Earth Observing System(EOS)Aura/Microwave Limb Sounder(MLS)observations indicates that the meteor radar temperatures and densities agree well with the simultaneous satellite measurements.Annual variations dominate the mesopause temperatures,with the maximum during winter and the minimum during summer.The mesopause relative densities also show annual variations,with strong maxima near the spring equinox and weak maxima before the winter solstice,and with a minimum during summer.In addition,the mesopause density exhibits a structure similar to that of the zonal wind:as the zonal wind flows eastward(westward),the mesopause density decreases(increases).At the same time,the meridional wind shows a structure similar to that of the mesopause temperature:as the meridional wind shows northward(southward)enhancements,the mesopause temperature increases(decreases).Simultaneous horizontal wind,temperature,and density observations provide multiple mesospheric parameters for investigating mesospheric dynamics and thermodynamic processes and have the potential to improve widely used empirical atmospheric models.

中国科大蒙城流星雷达观测中间层-低热层大气风场和潮汐研究

中国科学技术大学蒙城流星雷达(33.4°N,116.5°E)自2014年4月运行以来,已经持续观测超过了8 a。本文报道了该流星雷达8 a的水平风场和大气潮汐波动观测结果。另外,给出了该流星雷达观测和Navy Global Environmental Model-High Altitude(NAVGEM-HA)模拟的对比结果。观测结果表明在北半球较低中纬度地区,流星雷达观测的流星数量存在明显的周日变化,流星数量在当地时间的上午增多,在午后和夜晚降低。同时流星数量也存在明显的周年变化,在9和10月份出现大值,在2月份出现低值。此外,北半球较低中纬度地区中间层-低热层大气水平风场存在明显的周年变化,在84 km以上,纬向水平风场在夏季表现为东向风场,冬季表现为西向风场;而在84 km以下,冬季为东向风场,春季为西向风场。经向风场则表现出冬季为北向风场,夏季为南向风场。此外,大气风场存在明显的太阳热力潮汐波动,主要表现为周日潮汐,半日潮汐次之。其中纬向和经向周日潮汐均在春季3月份出现了最大值,振幅分别可达到40和30 m/s,而在秋季9月份出现较大值,振幅分别可达到30和25 m/s。周日潮汐振幅基本表现为在春秋分日附近出现增强,在冬夏至日附近出现减弱的特征。半日潮汐主要在90 km高度以上出现明显增强,而在季节变化特征上,在春季(4月)和秋季(9月)出现明显的增强。

Quasi-90-day oscillation observed in the MLT region at low latitudes from the Kunming meteor radar and SABER

Observations of a quasi-90-day oscillation in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere(MLT) region from April 2011 to December 2014 are presented in this study. There is clear evidence of a quasi-90-day oscillation in temperatures obtained from the Kunming meteor radar(25.6°N, 103.8°E) and Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry(SABER), as well as in wind observed by the Kunming meteor radar. The quasi-90-day oscillation appears to be a prominent feature in the temperatures and meridional wind tides and presents quite regular cycles that occur approximately twice per year. The amplitudes and phases of the quasi-90-day oscillation in the SABER temperature show a feature similar to that of upward-propagated diurnal tides, which have a vertical wavelength of ～20 km above 70 km. In the lower atmosphere, a similar 90-day variability is presented in the surface latent heat flux and correlates with the temperature in the MLT region. Similar to the quasi-90-day oscillation in temperature, a 90-day variability of ozone(O3) is also present in the MLT region and is considered to be driven by a similar variability in the upwardly-propagated diurnal tides generated in the lower atmosphere. Moreover, the 90-day variability in the absorption of ultraviolet(UV) radiation by daytime O3 in the MLT region is an in situ source of the quasi-90-day oscillation in the MLT temperature.

Quasi-6-day waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region and their possible coupling with the QBO and solar 27-day rotation

By using atmospheric wind data in the mesopause and lower thermosphere(MLT)region,features of seasonal variations in the quasi-6-day wave(6DW)at different latitudes are analyzed,and modulation of the 6DW by the diurnal tide and solar 27-day period is discussed.The data used in the analysis are extracted from a wind dataset collected by a meteor radar chain from December 2008 to November 2017.The meteor radar chain includes four stations,in Mohe,Beijing,Wuhan,and Sanya.Features of seasonal variations in the 6DW indicate that in summer the 6DW is usually strongest during July and August,followed by stronger variations in January and April.At certain altitudes over Wuhan and Sanya,the 6DW is slightly different in different years and altitudes.In our analysis of seasonal variations in the 6DW,we find that it is generally affected by annual oscillations and semiannual oscillations.The annual oscillations of the 6DW in the mid-low latitudes are modulated by the quasibiennial oscillation in the diurnal tide,resulting in seasonal features that are different from those at other latitudes.In addition,the 6DW amplitude at mid-high latitudes has a significant 27-day solar rotation variation,which was prominent in 2016.

A comparison of MLT wind between meteor radar chain data and SDWACCM results

A meteor radar chain located along the 120°E meridian in the Northern Hemisphere from low to middle latitudes provides longterm horizontal wind observations of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere(MLT)region.In this study,we report a seasonal variation and its latitudinal feature in the horizontal mean wind in the MLT region observed by six meteor radar instruments located at Mohe(53.5°N,122.3°E),Beijing(40.3°N,116.2°E),Mengcheng(33.4°N,116.5°E),Wuhan(30.6°N,114.4°E),Kunming(25.6°N,108.3°E),and Fuke(19.5°N,109.1°E)stations.In addition,we compare the wind in the MLT region measured by the meteor radar stations with those simulated by the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model(WACCM).In general,the WACCM appears to capture well the seasonal and latitudinal variations in the zonal wind component.In particular,the temporal evolution of the eastward zonal wind maximum shifts from July to May as the latitude decreases.However,the simulated WACCM meridional wind exhibits differences from the meteor radar observations.

Parameter optimization for Rayleigh-Mie lidar under different dust conditions for the landing area of Martian Tianwen-1

Mars is the terrestrial planet in the solar system that is closest to the Earth.Studying the atmospheric parameters of Mars and studying the evolutionary history of the Martian environment on this basis is helpful for people to discover signs of extraterrestrial life and to study the trend of climate change on Earth.Mie–Rayleigh scattering lidar is an important technology for detecting parameters from the surface to the middle and upper atmosphere.Because of the different aerosol distributions,Mie scattering and Rayleigh scattering have their own optimal detection ranges.Given the long period and high cost of any deep space exploration program,it is important to conduct sufficient feasibility studies and parameter simulations before the payload is launched.In this study,a parameterized lidar mathematical model and Earth’s atmospheric mode are used to compare with the measured signals of ground-based Mie–Rayleigh scattering lidar,and the correctness of the lidar mathematical model is verified.Using the model,we select the landing area of Tianwen-1 and substitute it into the Martian atmospheric mode,and then the Mie–Rayleigh lidar backscattering signal and the key parameters of the lidar system are systematically analyzed under the conditions of a clean Martian atmosphere and a global sandstorm.In addition,the optimal detection altitude ranges of Mie scattering and Rayleigh scattering on Mars under different atmospheric conditions are obtained,which provides a reference for the practical design and development of the subsequent lidar system for the Martian atmospheric environment.