Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000
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 trend...
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Copernicus Publications
2002-01-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/20/81/2002/angeo-20-81-2002.pdf |
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doaj-986e53b4f0814955a3d4180e9bde81082020-11-24T22:32:12ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762002-01-0120819110.5194/angeo-20-81-2002Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000H. R. Middleton0H. R. Middleton1N. J. Mitchell2H. G. Muller3Department of Physics, University of Wales Aberystwyth, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 3BZ, UKCorrespondence to: H. R. Middleton (hrm@aber.ac.uk)Department of Physics, University of Wales Aberystwyth, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 3BZ, UKUniversity of Cranfield, Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, Swindon, SN6 8LA, UKA 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<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> for the zonal component and + 0.157 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> for the meridional component. Seasonal means revealed significant trends in the case of meridional winds in spring ( + 0.38 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>) and autumn ( + 0.29 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>), and zonal winds in summer ( + 0.48 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>) and autumn ( + 0.38 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>). 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)https://www.ann-geophys.net/20/81/2002/angeo-20-81-2002.pdf |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
H. R. Middleton H. R. Middleton N. J. Mitchell H. G. Muller |
| spellingShingle |
H. R. Middleton H. R. Middleton N. J. Mitchell H. G. Muller Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000 Annales Geophysicae |
| author_facet |
H. R. Middleton H. R. Middleton N. J. Mitchell H. G. Muller |
| author_sort |
H. R. Middleton |
| title |
Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000 |
| title_short |
Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000 |
| title_full |
Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000 |
| title_fullStr |
Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000 |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° N in the period 1988–2000 |
| title_sort |
mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at 52° n in the period 1988–2000 |
| publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
| series |
Annales Geophysicae |
| issn |
0992-7689 1432-0576 |
| publishDate |
2002-01-01 |
| description |
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<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> for the zonal component and + 0.157 ms<sup>-1</sup>
yr<sup>-1</sup> for the meridional component. Seasonal means revealed
significant trends in the case of meridional winds in spring ( + 0.38 ms<sup>-1</sup>
yr<sup>-1</sup>) and autumn ( + 0.29 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>), and
zonal winds in summer ( + 0.48 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>) and autumn ( +
0.38 ms<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>). 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) |
| url |
https://www.ann-geophys.net/20/81/2002/angeo-20-81-2002.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT hrmiddleton meanwindsofthemesosphereandlowerthermosphereat52nintheperiod19882000 AT hrmiddleton meanwindsofthemesosphereandlowerthermosphereat52nintheperiod19882000 AT njmitchell meanwindsofthemesosphereandlowerthermosphereat52nintheperiod19882000 AT hgmuller meanwindsofthemesosphereandlowerthermosphereat52nintheperiod19882000 |
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