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.

Characteristics of the quasi-16-day wave in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region as revealed by meteor radar,Aura satellite,and MERRA2 reanalysis data from 2008 to 2017

This study presents an analysis of the quasi-16-day wave(Q16DW)at three stations in the middle latitudes by using a meteor radar chain in conjunction with Aura Microwave Limb Sounder temperature data and MERRA2(Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications,Version 2)reanalysis data from 2008 to 2017.The radar chain consists of three meteor radar stations located at Mohe(MH,53.5°N,122.3°E),Beijing(BJ,40.3°N,116.2°E),and Wuhan(WH,30.5°N,114.6°E).The Q16DW wave exhibits similar seasonal variation in the neutral wind and temperature,and the Q16DW amplitude is generally strong during winter and weak around summer.The Q16DW at BJ was found to have secondary enhancement around September in the zonal wind,which is rarely reported at similar latitudes.The latitudinal variations of the Q16DW in the neutral wind and temperature are quite different.The Q16DW at BJ is the most prominent in both neutral wind components among the three stations and the Q16DW amplitudes at MH and WH are comparable,whereas the wave amplitude in temperature decreases with decreasing latitude.The quasi-geostrophic refractive index squared at the three stations in the period from 2008 to 2017 was revealed.The results indicate that the Q16DW in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere(MLT)at MH has a limited contribution from the lower atmosphere.Around March and October,the Q16DW in the troposphere at BJ can propagate upward into the MLT region,whereas at WH,the contribution to the Q16DW in the MLT region is largely from the mesosphere.

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.

VHF meteor radar at King Sejong Station,Antarctica

Since 2002, we have been observing the mesosphere and lower thermosphere （MLT） region over King Sejong Station （KSS; 62.22°S, 58.78°W）, Antarctica, using various instruments such as the Spectral Airglow Temperature Imager （SATI）, All Sky Camera （ASC） and VHF meteor radar. The meteor radar, installed in March 2007, continuously measures neutral winds in the alti- tude region 70-110 km and neutral temperature near the mesopause 24 h.d-1, regardless of weather conditions. In this study, we present results of an analysis of the neutral wind data for gravity wave activity over the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, where such activity is known to be very high. Also presented is temperature estimation from measurement of the decay times of meteor trails, which is compared with other temperature measurements from SATI and the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emis- sion Radiometry （SABER） instrument onboard the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energy and Dynamics （TIMED） satel- lite.

The Nippon/Norway Svalbard Meteor Radar: First results of small-scale structure observations

The Nippon/Norway Svalbard Meteor Radar(NSMR), has been in operation since March 2001. While primarily thought of as an instrument for examining mean wind, tidal and gravity wave neutral atmosphere dynamics in the upper mesosphere region, it is also possible to investigate spatial and temporal structure of temperature and windshear. Here, the radar itself is described followed by a presentation of these derived parameters.

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.

A comparison of mesospheric winds measured by FPI and meteor radar located at 40N

In this paper, winds derived from OH Meinel 892.0 nm detection by an FPI (Fabry-Perot Interferometer) are compared with the simultaneous wind measurements from a meteor radar during April-May of 2010. The peak height of OH Meinel 892.0 nm is about 87 km. The variations of FPI wind at 87 km mostly have the similar track to meteor radar wind at 87 km, and the data values of FPI wind mainly fall into the range of meteor radar wind. However, there are still quantitative differences between the observations of the two systems. The best cross-correlation occurs in meridional winds from two systems in April of 2010. An obvious wave signal with 0.2 cycle/d frequency is found in meridional winds observed by both FPI and meteor radar.

Meteor radar observation of circulation near mesopause over Wuhan

The Wuhan meteor radar is the first all-sky meteor radar in China. The circulation near the mesopause from February to September 2002 is studied based on the data obtained by the Wuhan meteor radar. The zonal wind is usually eastward in winter from 80 to 100 km. The mean zonal wind become westward from March to early of May, when the winter circulation reverses to the summer circulation. But at the meteor heights, the zonal circulation usually becomes eastward after the middle of May. The meridional circulation is always equatorward. The peaks of the meridional wind move downward with the height, and the peak value reaches its maximum of 21 ms-1 in July. Having made a comparison between monthly mean wind and HWM93 model wind, the value of southward wind, the maximal value of eastward wind as well as the reversal height of zonal wind are found to be quite different from each other.

The possibility of using all-sky meteor radar to observe ionospheric E-region field-aligned irregularities

All-sky meteor radars are primarily used for meteor observations. This paper reports the first observations of ionospheric Eregion field-aligned irregularities(FAIs) from a conventional all-sky meteor radar located at Wuhan(31°N, 114°E) for the period of March–June 2018. E-region FAI echoes evident in range-time intensity(RTI) maps show quasiperiodic striations with positive and negative slopes, which are consistent with multiple FAI structures moving across the wide beam of the meteor radar. A statistical analysis shows that out of a total of 111 d, there are 73 d with E-region FAI echoes detected by the meteor radar. The FAI events correspond well with the presence of sporadic-E layers which provide the necessary plasma density gradient for the development of gradient drift instability producing FAIs. The results demonstrate the capability of conventional meteor radars to make simultaneous routine observations of meteors and ionospheric E-region FAIs through incorporating RTI and spectral analysis into the online realtime data processing. Meteor radar observations could potentially address the limitations of ionospheric radars, which cannot provide simultaneous measurements of neutral winds and irregularity structures, and thereby contribute to better understanding of the dynamical processes producing E-region irregularities.

First results of optical meteor and meteor trail irregularity from simultaneous Sanya radar and video observations

Meteoroids entering the Earth's atmosphere can create meteor trail irregularity seriously disturbing the background ionosphere. Although numerous observations of meteor trail irregularities were performed with VHF/UHF coherent scatter radars in the past, no simultaneous radar and optical instruments were employed to investigate the characteristics of meteor trail irregularity and its corresponding meteoroid. By installing multiple video cameras near the Sanya VHF radar site, an observational campaign was conducted during the period from November 2016 to February 2017. A total of 242 optical meteors with simultaneous non-specular echoes backscattered from the plasma irregularities generated in the corresponding meteor trails were identified. A good agreement between the angular positions of non-specular echoes derived from the Sanya radar interferometer and those of optical meteors was found,validating that the radar system phase offsets have been properly calibrated. The results also verify the interferometry capability of Sanya radar for meteor trail irregularity observation. The non-specular echoes with simultaneous optical meteors were detected at magnetic aspect angles greater than ~78°. Based on the meteor visual magnitude estimated from the optical data, it was found that the radar nonspecular echoes corresponding to brighter meteors survived for longer duration. This could provide observational evidence for the significance of meteoroid mass on the duration of meteor trail irregularity. On the other hand, the simultaneous radar and video common-volume observations showed that there were some cases with optical meteors but without radar non-specular echoes. One possibility could be that some of the optical meteors appeared at extremely low altitudes where meteor trail irregularities rarely occur.

子午工程二期流星雷达样机测试及数据对比分析

子午工程二期将在分布于全国的10个观测站点建设流星雷达.为了带动国内空间环境地基观测技术的发展,工程建设项目指挥部布局了流星雷达的国产化专项行动.为了确保建成后的设备满足使用要求,工程总体组织了设备样机测试,包括设备的技术指标测试和数据质量评估.技术指标测试表明其满足要求.在获得数据之后,以EMDR流星雷达数据为参考,对样机的数据进行质量评估.主要对比参数包括有效流星计数、流星数时空分布、扩散系数高度分布、风场随高度的分布和随时间的变化等.本文主要展示了数据质量评估的结果,揭示了流星雷达观测的一些基本特征和规律,为数据准确性的评估提供参考和借鉴.

基于漠河与武汉站流星雷达的中间层顶大气温度反演

本文利用漠河和武汉站的全天空流星雷达在2012—2022年期间的观测数据,基于流星高度分布的半高宽(full width at half maximum,FWHM)与温度之间的线性关系来反演90 km高度处的大气温度。对每年数据作线性拟合时发现拟合参数几乎不变,因此本文使用过去一段时间总结出的参数来拟合温度,并与传统梯度法对比。结果表明,使用FWHM法测出的温度与Aura卫星的温度更为接近,其中相关系数和平均误差均优于梯度法,并且FWHM法在较高纬度的漠河站的拟合效果好于较低纬度的武汉站。说明在漠河站和武汉站使用FWHM法反演中间层顶大气温度是可行的;同时也证明了纬度会影响FWHM法的误差,在较高纬度使用FWHM法的结果误差更小。

平流层爆发性增温期间中高层大气行星波研究进展

极区平流层爆发性增温(SSW)是冬季半球最剧烈的大气扰动现象之一.SSW期间温度和风场的剧烈变化被认为是冬季半球中高层大气波动能量异常增强的主要原因.流星雷达是能够稳定连续探测中间层和低热层风场的重要地基探测设备.主要依托国家重大科技基础设施建设项目:“子午工程”,我国已建设了多个流星雷达观测台站,对中间层和低热层风场进行了长期稳定连续的监测,为揭示SSW期间中间层和低热层波动异常变化的物理机制提供了重要的观测资料.本文简述了近年来以我国“子午工程”流星雷达监测数据为核心,SSW期间中高层大气行星波的研究进展和成果;深入讨论了冬季半球中高层大气行星波发生异常变化的主要激发机制.随着“子午工程”二期十个流星雷达台站即将建成,本文对利用“子午工程”流星雷达监测台网进一步研究SSW期间中高层大气波动的变化特性进行了展望.

基于中国中东部多站流星雷达的二维风场观测研究

全天空流星雷达广泛应用于中间层-低热层大气水平风场的观测,为研究该区域大气风场的变化特征提供了重要数据支持.目前流星雷达主要采用单站观测模式,没有水平分辨率,并且只能探测流星区域的大气平均水平风场.为了得到更加丰富且精准的中间层-低热层大气风场信息,本研究介绍了建设在中国安徽地区的多站流星雷达系统,该系统包括安装在蒙城(33.36°N,116.49°E)的一台单站流星雷达和长丰(31.98°N,117.22°E)的一台远程接收机,两地直线距离约为167 km.相比于单站流星雷达,多站流星雷达系统探测到的前向散射流星数目增加了约70%,并且一般可以提供400 km×400 km以上的水平观测区域.除此之外,多站流星雷达系统还可以提供更加丰富的流星观测角度.新多站系统可以实现中间层-低热层大气二维水平风场的观测,在获取平均水平风场以及风场水平梯度的同时,还可以估计水平风场的散度、相对涡度和拉伸、剪切形变信息.多站流星雷达能够提供更多的水平风场参数,对进一步研究中间层-低热层区域的大气动力学过程具有重要意义.不仅如此,未来即将建成的多站流星雷达观测网将会实现中国中东部地区上空的中间层-低热层大气高时空分辨率的三维风场观测,这将有利于促进我们对中间层-低热层区域内的各类波动过程的理解.

2013年极区平流层爆发性增温期间我国昆明地区临近空间大气波动特性研究

利用2012-12-01—2013-02-28期间昆明站与120°E子午链附近5个台站流星雷达观测的大气风场数据,分析了2013年极区平流层爆发性增温(stratospheric sudden warming,SSW)事件对昆明地区临近空间平均风场、大气潮汐波的影响.结果表明2013年SSW期间,昆明站纬向东向风快速减弱并转向,北向风异常增强,周日潮汐和半日潮汐振幅均出现明显下降.结合小波分析结果发现:2013年SSW期间行星波有幅度增强现象,但主导准周期在不同纬度和不同时间表现不一致;昆明站垂测仪的foF2数据表现出明显的潮汐波状变化结构;行星波和半日潮汐的相互作用可能是临近空间调制电离层的主要机制,其耦合机制有待进一步研究.

三类天线阵列布局的流星雷达到达角估计性能分析

为了分析阵列布局对流星雷达到达角(direction of arrival,DOA)估计性能的影响,本文以阵列信号空间谱和克拉美-罗界(Cramer-Rao bound,CRB)作为评估指标,对流星雷达的三种天线阵型即十字阵型、T阵型和L阵型进行了DOA估计性能比较分析,并对比了十字阵型调整天线元间距后与传统方式的性能差异.研究结果表明:三种阵型中,T阵型在精确度和稳定性上均优于其他两种阵型,L阵型在某些方向的DOA中性能最优,但在其他方向上表现较差;改变天线间距会使得某个方向的DOA估计精度提高,但以降低其他方向的DOA精度为代价.

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.

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。

武汉上空中层和低热层大气潮汐的流星雷达观测

武汉流星雷达是2002年元月建成的我国第一部全天空流星雷达,本文对2002年2月19日到7月31日流星雷达观测的潮汐的讨论表明,武汉中层顶以周日潮汐为潮汐运动的主要分量,它的强度远大于半日潮汐,周日潮汐和半日潮汐的波源都在80km以下.周日潮汐分量在3、4月份最强,并且经向分量略强于纬向分量.两个分量的峰值在约95km处出现,分别达到44m/s和60m/s.半日潮的最大值24m/s出现在4月初约93km处.周日潮汐和半日潮汐的振幅和相位随时间呈现出拟周期变化的特征,这可能是潮汐与行星波非线形相互作用的结果.观测结果与GSWM模型的比较表明, GSWM模型在相位随高度变化趋势上与观测结果一致,但模型的周日潮相位比观测约超前1-2h,半日潮相位约滞后1-4h.在周日潮汐较强的月份,模型与观测有较大的差异,观测的幅度通常在95km附近有极大值,而模型并没有极大值. GSWM模型对半日潮的幅度的估计通常过小,观测的半日潮汐幅度有时甚至超过模型值的一倍以上.

大气重力波引起的偶发钠层研究

利用了中国科学院临近空间环境野外综合探测站(廊坊,39°N,116°E)的钠荧光多普勒激光雷达和流星雷达的探测数据对廊坊上空大气重力波引起的偶发钠层(SSL)进行了研究。首先从大气重力波方程出发,计算分析了大气水平风剪切和垂直风场之间的相位关系;其次利用了钠荧光多普勒激光雷达和流星雷达的实测数据对大气重力波引起的偶发钠层进行了分析研究;经研究分析可知,由于大气重力波引起强的水平风切变和垂直风场风向反转的共同作用,其堆积效应使得钠原子密度增强,形成了偶发钠层。