Thermal structure of the mesopause region during the WADIS-2 rocket campaign
<p>This paper presents simultaneous temperature measurements by three independent instruments during the WADIS-2 rocket campaign in northern Norway (69<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span> N, 14<span class="inline-formula">...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2019-01-01
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Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/77/2019/acp-19-77-2019.pdf |
Summary: | <p>This paper presents simultaneous temperature measurements by three
independent instruments during the WADIS-2 rocket campaign in northern Norway
(69<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span> N, 14<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span> E) on 5 March 2015. Vertical profiles
were measured in situ with the CONE instrument. Continuous mobile IAP Fe lidar (Fe
lidar) measurements during a period of 24 <span class="inline-formula">h</span>, as well as horizontally resolved temperature maps by the Utah State University (USU) Advanced
Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) in the mesopause region, are analysed.
Vertical and horizontal temperature profiles by all three instruments are in
good agreement. A harmonic analysis of the Fe lidar measurements shows the
presence of waves with periods of 24, 12, 8, and 6 <span class="inline-formula">h</span>.
Strong waves with amplitudes of up to 10 <span class="inline-formula">K</span> at 8 and
6 <span class="inline-formula">h</span> are found. The 24 and 12 <span class="inline-formula">h</span> components play only a
minor role during these observations. In contrast only a few short periodic
gravity waves are found. Horizontally resolved temperatures measured with the
AMTM in the hydroxyl (OH) layer are used to connect the vertical temperature profiles.
In the field of view of <span class="inline-formula">200 km×160 km</span> only small deviations from
the horizontal mean of the order of 5 <span class="inline-formula">K</span> are found. Therefore only weak
gravity wave signatures occurred. This suggests horizontal structures of more
than 200 <span class="inline-formula">km</span>. A comparison of Fe lidar, rocket-borne measurements, and
AMTM temperatures indicates an OH centroid altitude of about 85 <span class="inline-formula">km</span>.</p> |
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ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |