The importance of charged aerosols in the polar mesosphere in connection with Noctilucent Clouds and Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes

A number of campaigns have been conducted in order to study Polar Mesosphere Summer Echos (PMSE) and Noctilucent Clouds (NLC) in the period 1991–1994. Several sounding rockets have been launched through these layers with measurements being performed on upleg as well as downleg. These include measurements of positive ions and electrons in both ram and wake positions, as well as measurements of charged aerosols in ram on upleg. In this paper we will review these measurements and make a preliminary classification of the data based upon the presence of PMSE and/or NLC. One of the mechanisms responsible for PMSE is the presence of neutral air turbulence in combination with a high Schmidt number. We will briefly discuss this type of echo using in situ rocket data. Differences and similarities of PMSE and NLC as observed both in the Arctic and the Antarctic will be discussed. Observations show that especially PMSE are much more frequent in the Arctic. This may be due to a difference in the water vapour content or the temperature at mesopause heights. Lack of data in the Antarctic makes it difficult to decide which of these two factors are the most important. More measurements, especially co-ordinated in situ and ground-based lidar and radar measurements, are needed to discuss the Arctic and Antarctic similarities and differences in further detail.     

Temperature measurements during the CAMP program

The Cold Arctic Mesopause Program (CAMP) was conducted at ESRANGE, Sweden, in July/August 1982. During the time period of several weeks, the temperature was monitored by ground-based OH emission spectrometers and by stellite radiance measurements. Rocket launchings occurred on the nights of $\text{3}\text{4}$ and $\text{11}\text{12}$ August. On $\text{3}\text{4}$ August, seven rocket payloads were launched during a period of noctilucent cloud sighting over ESRANGE. The presence of the NLC was confirmed by several rocket-borne photometer profiles. The temperature measurements showed that the temperature profiles in the stratosphere and lower mesosphere were near the expected values of high latitude summer models. A large amplitude wave structure with three temperature minima of 139K, 114K and 111K were observed at altitudes between 83 and 94 km. The temperature minimum at 83 km was the location of the observed NLC. The temperature minima caused by the growth of the gravity wave amplitude in the highly stable mesosphere provide the regions for the growth of particles by nucleation to optical scattering size, as well as regions where the nuclei for condensation can be formed through ion chemistry paths.     

Horizontal winds in the mesosphere at high latitudes

A total of 146 meteorological rocket flights applying the ‘falling sphere’ technique are used to obtain horizontal winds in the mesosphere at polar latitudes, namely at the Andøya Rocket Range (69°N, 125 flights), at Spitsbergen (78°N, 10 flights), and at Rothera (68°S, 11 January flights only). Nearly all flights took place around noon or midnight, i.e., in the same phase of the semidiurnal tide. Meridional winds at 69°N show a clear diurnal tidal variation which is not observed in the zonal winds. The zonal wind climatology shows a transition from summer to winter conditions with the zero wind line propagating upward from 40 km (end of August) to 80 km (end of September). Zonal winds are smaller at Spitsbergen compared to Andøya which is in line with a common angular velocity at both stations. Meridional winds at noon are of similar magnitude at all three stations and are directed towards the north and south pole, respectively. Horizontal and meridional winds generally agree with empirical models, except for the zonal winds at Antarctica which are similar to the NH, whereas there is a significant SH/NH difference in CIRA-1986.     

Measurement of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates in the mesosphere by a 3 MHz Doppler radar

A new narrow beam Doppler radar operating at 3.17 MHz has been installed close to the Andøya Rocket Range in Andenes, Norway in summer 2002 in order to improve the ground based capabilities for measurements of turbulence in the mesosphere. The main feature of the radar is a Mills Cross transmitting/receiving antenna consisting of 29 crossed half-wave dipoles. In combination with the modular transceiver system this provides high flexibility in beam forming and pointing. In general, vertical and oblique beams with a minimum one way half-power full-beam width (HPFW) of 6.6° are used. The observations are usually performed with a height resolution of 1 km and with off-zenith beams at 7.3° directed towards NW, NE, SE, and SW. Turbulence intensities have been estimated from the width of the observed signal spectra using an computationally intensive correction method which requires precise knowledge of the antenna radiation pattern. The program uses real-time measurements of the wind field in all determinations. Turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates based on radar observations are presented and compared with corresponding climatological summer and winter profiles from rocket measurements, as well as with single profiles from model runs for selected periods from September 2003 to Summer 2004. The mean turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates based on these radar measurements are about 5 mW/kg at 60 km altitude and about 20 mW/kg at 80 km, in reasonable agreement with mean turbulence intensities obtained from previous rocket soundings at Andenes.     

Xe+-induced ion-cyclotron harmonic waves

Porcupine sounding rockets launched from Kiruna in March 1979 carried comprehensive payloads of field, wave and particle experiments. In addition, Xenon ion sources on an ejectable package separated from the main payload during flight. The effects of the Xe⁺ beam as detected by the LF (f<16 kHz) wide-band electric field experiment are discussed. Of particular interest is the stimulation by the Xenon ions of ion-cyclotron harmonic waves covering the whole frequency range up to 16 kHz. These waves are usually linked to the local proton gyro-frequency but occasionally they are related to half that frequency. A possible generation mechanism based on the excitation of waves in the presence of a light minor ion is suggested.     

Reduced meteoric smoke particle density at the summer pole – Implications for mesospheric ice particle nucleation

Noctilucent clouds (NLC) and polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) are phenomena that occur in the summertime polar regions due to the presence of ice particles around the mesopause. That ice particles are able to form in a region with such low water vapour concentration as the mesopause is noteworthy. Even though the summer mesopause is the coldest region on Earth, temperatures are generally not low enough for homogeneous nucleation to occur, which necessitates the presence of pre-existing condensation nuclei. The nature of these nuclei has long puzzled the scientific community and many candidates have been suggested, such as particles of meteoric origin, ion clusters, sodium bi-carbonate, sulfate aerosols and soot particles. Out of these the so-called “smoke particles”, i.e. particles re-condensed from ablated meteoritic material, have long been considered the most likely. Generally, it has been believed that these particles exist in numbers of the order of thousands per cubic centimetre at the mesopause. This belief is based on 1-dimensional studies of meteoric material. A recent 2-dimensional model study, which includes the atmospheric circulation from summer to winter pole however, suggests much lower number densities at the summer mesopause. We here investigate the implications of low number densities for the formation of ice particles. We find that even though resulting ice particle distribution may produce typical NLC brightness, the number density of ice particles is not consistent with what is expected for NLC and PMSE. In particular, it is much lower than the ice particle concentration (>1000 cm⁻³) typically expected to explain the “electron bite-outs” that are frequently observed in the vicinity of PMSE’s. We therefore re-examine the assumptions and parameters that determine the smoke distribution. We show that even though the number of condensation nuclei at the polar summer mesopause can be increased within the uncertainties, the results in most scenarios remain insufficient. We show that charged particles, perhaps in combination with significant deviations from the mean mesospheric state, may be necessary for condensation of ice particles in the polar summer mesosphere. Hence, we raise the question whether the conventional ideas of nucleation on meteoric smoke, which are used in current mesospheric ice models, are correct.     

双麦克斯韦分布下极区中层尘埃粒子带电研究

在大功率微波照射下，极区中层夏季回波（PMSE）会立刻消失，该现象被称为极区中层加热现象.在大功率微波照射极区中层时，电子在微波电场加速下产生的定向运动速度与热运动速度可以比拟，极区中层的尘埃等离子体服从双麦克斯韦分布.基于双麦克斯韦分布下尘埃粒子充电理论给出极区中层尘埃粒子的电荷分布，比较了大功率微波对极区中层加热前和加热时，尘埃粒子电荷以及极区中层电子浓度的变化.结果表明，采用大功率微波装置加热极区中层会影响电子对尘埃粒子的充电进而导致电子浓度变化，这对解释极区中层加热现象具有重要意义.      

On the initial perturbation of mesospheric dust associated irregularities by high powered radio waves

Important observational manifestations of subvisible mesospheric dust are Polar Mesospheric Summer Echoes (PMSEs) which are produced by scattering from electron irregularities produced by dust charging. It has been observed that the PMSE strength can be artificially modified by using a ground-based ionospheric heating facility to perturb the electron irregularity source region that is believed to produce PMSE. Recently it has become evident that significant diagnostic information may be available about the dust layer from the temporal behavior of the electron irregularities during the heating process which modifies the background electron temperature. Particularly interesting and important periods of the temporal behavior are during the turn-on and turn-off of the radio wave heating. Most past theoretical models and experimental investigations have concentrated primarily on the later period. The objective here is to consider the temporal behavior and possibilities for diagnostic information available during the turn-on period of the radio wave. First, approximate analytical models are developed and compared to a more accurate full computational model as a reference. Then from the temporal behavior of the electron irregularities during the turn-on of the radio wave, the analytical models are used to obtain possible diagnostic information for various charged dust and background plasma quantities.     

A new narrow beam Doppler radar at 3 MHz for studies of the high-latitude middle atmosphere

A Doppler radar at 3.17 MHz has been installed at Saura close to the Andøya Rocket Range as part of the ALOMAR observatory at Andenes, Norway in summer 2002 to improve the ground based capabilities for measurements of small scale features and turbulence in the mesosphere. The main feature of the new Saura MF radar is the transmitting/receiving antenna which is arranged as a Mills Cross of 29 crossed half-wave dipoles with a minimum beam width of about 7°. Each dipole is fed by its own transceiver, and the individual phase control of the 58 transceiver modules on transmission and reception provides high flexibility in beam forming and pointing as well as transmission switching between ordinary and extraordinary mode circular polarisation. In addition, beams with different widths at the same pointing angle can be formed. For multiple receiver applications (spaced antenna wind measurements, all-sky meteor detections) four independent receiving channels are available.     

Investigation of PMSE dependence on high energy particle precipitation during their simultaneous occurrence

This paper is based on the observations of Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes (PMSE) with the EISCAT VHF 224?MHz radar during the summer month 08–12 July 2013. The effect of high energy particle precipitation on PMSE intensity, particularly during their simultaneous occurrence for longer time interval (longer than or equal to 3-h) has been investigated. The correlation between the two phenomena has been computed using the Spearman rank and Pearson linear correlation coefficient. The variations in high energy particle precipitation reaching down to altitude of 91?km and PMSE intensity in the altitude range of 80–90?km are positively correlated. The electron density irregularity due to ionization caused by precipitating particles might be one of the possible reasons for this positive correlation. Moreover, some other background parameters i.e. K-indices (proxy of high energy particle precipitation) and electron fluxes during the simultaneous occurrence of the two phenomena also support one of the possible reasons given for explanation of the observed positive correlation. The X-rays and proton fluxes have no noticeable effect on PMSE echoes in this study.     

The cold summer mesopause

One of the most characteristic features of the summer mesopause at high latitudes is the very low temperature. Earlier measurements have shown temperatures in the range down to 135 K around 86 km altitude, whereas the most recent $\text{in situ}$ measurements have revealed temperatures still much lower than that in a rather wide altitude region. The reasons for these low temperatures are to be found in the dynamics of the strato- and mesospheres. Upwinds and gravity wave activity over the summer hemisphere cause efficient cooling of the atmosphere.Also other effects are caused by the updrafts. The vertical transport velocity for important minor constituents is increased, which for instance causes the concentration of water vapor around the mesopause to be enhanced by large factors. This situation is of major importance for the possibility of forming noctilucent clouds (NLC).NLC are believed to be composed of small water ice particles, which because of the low temperatures can be formed on existing condensation nuclei. Two of the main questions regarding the formation of NLC concern the water vapor budget of the upper mesosphere and the origin of the condensation nuclei.This paper gives a general introduction to mesospheric physics and composition. Some results from recent satellite and rocket experiments are reviewed and the campaign layout and the performed experiments within the MAP project CAMP are described. The results from the different experiments are presented in four accompanying papers on CAMP results.     

Ionospheric electron heating by a rocket borne electron accelerator

A “mother-daughter” rocket code-named “Electron 2” was launched from And?ya, Northern Norway in November, 1978. The “daughter”, carrying a 10 keV electron accelerator, was separated from the “mother” payload with a speed of 0.4 m/s. A series of plasma diagnostic instruments were included on the “mother” to study effects produced by the interaction between the electron beam and the ionospheric plasma. Results obtained by two different plasma probes are presented. It was found that pronounced changes in the ambient electron population took place in regions penetrated by the electron beam. Estimates of the dimensions of the disturbed region are presented.     

中层小尺度风切变的观测

十个中层大气风剖面于1988年夏季在北欧的Andφya(69°N)上空用装有铝箔的火箭测得。使用了一种新型铝箔,使其测量的高度范围覆盖103-85km,测量的高度分辨率为25m.观测的风切变剖面显示了一多层结构,一般由3-9个切变层组成,切变层厚度通常小于200m.观测到高达40-90m/s/km的强风切变,且如此大的切变存在于所测区间内不同高度上。在一个连续测量的五个风切变剖面中,有寿命至少2.5小时,相位向下运动速度为0.4m/s,以及最大切变振幅为180m/s/km的强风切变,显示了稳定和持续特性。      

Observation of a 27-day solar signature in noctilucent cloud altitude

Previous studies have identified solar 27-day signatures in several parameters in the Mesosphere/Lower thermosphere region, including temperature and Noctilucent cloud (NLC) occurrence frequency. In this study we report on a solar 27-day signature in NLC altitude with peak-to-peak variations of about 400?m. We use SCIAMACHY limb-scatter observations from 2002 to 2012 to detect NLCs. The superposed epoch analysis method is applied to extract solar 27-day signatures. A 27-day signature in NLC altitude can be identified in both hemispheres in the SCIAMACHY dataset, but the signature is more pronounced in the northern hemisphere. The solar signature in NLC altitude is found to be in phase with solar activity and temperature for latitudes $?70°$N. We provide a qualitative explanation for the positive correlation between solar activity and NLC altitude based on published model simulations.     

Electric field and electron density measurements in the equatorial E-region

A centaure rocket, with payloads of Langmuir probe and Electric field probe, was launched from Thumba (8° 31'N, O° 47'S dip), India on February 12, 1981 at 1057 Hrs IST. The aim of the experiment was to study the role of localised electric fields in the generation of plasma density irregularities through cross field instability and the two-stream instability mechanism. The rocket was launched at a time when Type I irregularities were observed with VHF radar at Thumba.     

“嫦娥4号”月球背面软着陆任务设计

介绍了"嫦娥4号"月球背面软着陆任务设计方案。着陆区初步选定为月球背面南极–艾特肯(South PoleAitken,SPA)盆地内的冯·卡门(Von Kármán)撞击坑内。采用中继星实现着陆器和巡视器的对地通信,并选择环绕地月拉格朗日L2点的halo轨道作为其使命轨道。采用CZ-4C火箭和CZ-3B火箭,分别完成中继星和着陆器–巡视器组合体的发射。两器一星上共配置了6台国内研制科学载荷和3台国际合作科学载荷,开展以低频射电天文观测、巡视区形貌、矿物组份及浅层结构为主的科学探测。此外,还搭载了2颗月球轨道编队飞行微卫星、月面微型生态圈和大孔径激光角反射镜,分别开展超长波天文干涉测量试验、月面生态系统试验和超过地月距离的激光测距试验。通过创新设计顶层任务,充分继承成熟技术和产品,增加中继通信功能模块,开放资源引入高性能载荷和搭载项目,将实现一次低成本、短周期、大开放、高效益的月球探测任务。     

Positive ion composition and electron density in a combined auroral and NLC event

The positive ion composition and electron density were measured in the lower ionosphere above Kiruna in salvo A of CAMP (Cold Arctic Mesopause Project). The CAMP/P (S37/P) payload carrying a magnetic ion spectrometer, positive ion and electron probes, and propagation experiments was launched on 3 August 1982 2332 UT during extended Noctilucent Clouds (NLC) and auroral activities over Kiruna. The measured electron density was 5×10³cm^?3 at 80 km and 2.5×10⁵cm^?3 at 90 km. The increase of ion and electron densities in the D- and E-region during twilight was caused by precipitating auroral particles. The height distribution of the positive ions measured by the mass spectrometer in the mass range 19–280 amu is different from a winter flight with similar auroral conditions. Below 85.5 km proton hydrates H⁺(H₂O)₃ ? H⁺(H₂O)₈ were the dominant ions. The heaviest proton hydrates H⁺(H₂O)₇ and H⁺(H₂O)₈ were most abundant at 82–85.5 km, the altitude of visible NLC. Above 85.5 km O₂⁺ and NO⁺ became dominant. A small metal ion layer was observed between 90.5–93 km with a maximum ion density of 10% of the total positive ion density at 91 km altitude. The metal ion density disappeared within about a km below 90.5 km.     

从探空七号气象火箭到织女三号高空研究火箭——我国实用探空火箭发射成功30年回顾

1960年9月13日我国实用探空火箭——探空七号气象火箭首次发射成功,揭开了我国火箭探空活动的序幕。自那时以来,我国火箭探空事业取得了显著进展。在过去的30年间,我国共发射了17种型号的探空火箭;此外,一种新型号探空火箭——织女三号高空研究火箭也将于近年内发射。本文从火箭气象探测、火箭生物试验、火箭大气取样、火箭试验研究等四个方面对此进行概略回顾。     

嫦娥四号任务科学目标和有效载荷配置

嫦娥四号探测器由中继星、着陆器和巡视器组成.其科学目标为:月基低频射电天文观测研究,月球背面巡视区浅层结构探测研究以及月球背面巡视区形貌与矿物组分探测研究.共配置6台有效载荷设备,其中3台载荷设备配置在着陆器上,分别为降落相机、地形地貌相机和低频射电谱仪,其余3台配置在巡视器上,分别为全景相机、测月雷达和红外成像光谱仪.本文主要论述了嫦娥四号任务的科学目标、着陆区概况、有效载荷配置及系统设计、各有效载荷任务和主要技术指标等.      

Energy deposition rates by charged particles measured during the energy budget campaign

Measurements of the precipitation of electrons and positive ions (in the keV to MeV range) detected aboard eight rockets launched from Northern Scandinavia are reported together with corresponding satellite data. The downgoing integral fluxes indicate the temporal fluctuations during each flight. Height profiles of the energy deposition into the atmosphere at different levels of geomagnetic disturbance are given.