Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000

• Main Authors: H. R. Middleton, N. J. Mitchell, H. G. Muller
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2002-01-01
• Series: Annales Geophysicae
• Online Access: https://www.ann-geophys.net/20/81/2002/angeo-20-81-2002.pdf
• ISSN: 0992-7689; 1432-0576

A meteor radar in the UK (near 52° N) has been used to measure the mean winds of the mesosphere/lower-thermosphere (MLT) region over the period 1988–2000. The seasonal course and interannual variability is characterised and comparisons are made with a number of models. Annual mean wind trends were found to be + 0.37 ms^-1 yr^-1 for the zonal component and + 0.157 ms^-1 yr^-1 for the meridional component. Seasonal means revealed significant trends in the case of meridional winds in spring ( + 0.38 ms^-1 yr^-1) and autumn ( + 0.29 ms^-1 yr^-1), and zonal winds in summer ( + 0.48 ms^-1 yr^-1) and autumn ( + 0.38 ms^-1 yr^-1). Significant correlation coefficients, <i>R</i>, between the sunspot number and seasonal mean wind are found in four instances. In the case of the summer zonal winds, <i>R</i> = + 0.732; for the winter meridional winds, <i>R </i>= - 0.677; for the winter zonal winds, <i>R</i> = - 0.472; and for the autumn zonal winds <i>R</i> = + 0.508.<br><br><b>Key words. </b>Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (climatology; general circulation; middle atmospheric dynamics)