Waves in airglow structures experiment 2004: Overview and preliminary results

Overview and preliminary results of a coordinated rocket and ground-based measurement campaign, Waves in Airglow Structures Experiment 2004 (WAVE2004), are presented. The aim of the campaign is to understand the formation process of wavy structures in the airglow from both dynamical and chemical aspects. Na lidar was used to monitor the vertical structure of atmospheric waves continuously. Ground-based measurements operated from several days before the launch could detect various waves. The atomic oxygen density distribution found showed a single peak structure as usually expected instead of a double peak structure in the previous campaign.     

Evidence for the lowering of the centroid of daytime thermospheric O(D) 630.0 nm emission over the magnetic equator: First results

It is shown in this paper for the first time that the intensity of the daytime thermospheric O(¹D) 630.0 nm airglow as measured by the ground-based dayglow photometer over Trivandrum (8.5°N; 77°E; dip lat. 0.5°N), a geomagnetic dip equatorial station, exhibit a direct correlation with the electron density at 180 km. This altitude is about ∼40 km lower than the believed centroid of the O(¹D) 630.0 nm dayglow emission i.e. 220 km. This observation is contrary to the understanding of the behavior of O(¹D) 630.0 nm dayglow over equatorial/low latitudes. Over these latitudes, the variations of the measured intensity of O(¹D) 630.0 nm dayglow are known to be associated with the changes in the electron density at altitudes around 220 km, the centroid of this emission. In this context, the present results indicating the lowering of the peak altitude of O(¹D) 630.0 nm emission from ∼220 to ∼180 km over the dip equator is new. Recent results on solar XUV flux indicate that this could be an important parameter that controls the O(¹D) 630.0 nm dayglow excitation rates through modulations in the neutral and ionic composition in lower thermosphere-ionosphere region. However, the lowering of the centroid of O(¹D) 630.0 nm emission, as shown in this study, has been ascribed primarily to the fountain effect associated with the equatorial ionization anomaly.     

Thermospheric F-region travelling disturbances detected at low latitude by an OI 630 nm digital imager system

Gravity wave effects in the nocturnal thermospheric F-region domain are seldom detected in the intertropical region by optical (airglow) techniques, especially during geomagnetically quiet times, in part because the low inclination of the magnetic field, as opposed to the case of the mid-latitude region, does not favor significant vertical excursions of ionospheric plasma in response to meridional winds. Such difficulty in detecting gravity wave signatures in the F-region by means of optical techniques tends to increase in the absence of geomagnetic storms because of the lack of strong forcing mechanisms necessary to generate high intensity gravity waves. The purpose of this work is to show that during the quiet day of 9 August 1999, the Terminator may have been a source region of wave-like disturbances in the nocturnal F-region at the low-latitude station Cachoeira Paulista (22°41'S; 45°00W, dip 30°). A digital all-sky OI 630nm imager system located at that station has shown propagating wave-like spatial structures in the airglow intensity near the Terminator. This observation supports a previous study on the evidence of the presence of gravity waves during the post-sunset period at the same location by means of a scanning photometer system (1997, Sobral, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys. 59, 1611–1623). The absence of range-type spread-F as monitored by a local digisonde and the absence of radio wave scintillation as monitored by a local GPS receiver, excludes the hypothesis that the wave-like airglow structures are associated with the occurrence of the ionospheric plasma bubbles. Downwards motion of the iso-density real height contours at 22.0 ms⁻¹ and 33.1 ms⁻¹ are observed. The wave detection by the imager system is reported and discussed here.     

中性气体释放人工产生气辉

电离层中分子性的离子与电子的复合要比氧离子与电子的辐射性复合快得多,因此火箭发动机产生的尾气和空间等离子体主动实验中主动释放的中性气体会对电离层有很大的影响,这么大的电离层扰动现象在过去的实验中经常可以观测到.根据中性气体在热层背景中的扩散方程,考虑电离层F区主要的离子化学反应,研究了H2,H2O和CO2气体在电离层高度上的扩散过程和电离层对所释放气体的响应,计算了气辉的体发射系数和发射强度.结果表明,中性气体在电离层高度上扩散非常迅速,在F区的一些高度上,主要正离子成分由O+转变为其他分子离子,且在释放过程中伴随气辉发射,发射气辉的波长和特征与释放物质的种类有关.      

Temporal variation of the volume emission rates between OI5577 and O2(0,1)

The intensities of the upper mesospheric airglow emissions, OI 557.7 nm and O₂(b) atmospheric (0,1) band at 864.5 nm, have been measured since October 1998 using a ground-based multichannel airglow photometer located near the equator at São João do Cariri (7S, 35W). The intensity ratio between the two emissions, OI5577/O₂b(0,1), was obtained as a function of time. The annual average of the ratio R in 1998 was 0.41 ± 0.14, and showed considerable day to day variations, ranging from 0.2 to 0.6. Nocturnal variations of the ratio also demonstrate a large amplitude of oscillation, varying between 0.3 to 0.6. These results were compared with a model calculation.     

基于Fabry-Perot干涉仪气辉观测数据反演中性风速方法比较

利用半径法、完整傅里叶级数描述法和非线性回归法分别对安装在河北省境内国家天文台兴隆园区（40.2°N,117.4°E）的Fabry-Perot干涉仪（FPI）获得的地基中高层大气气辉观测数据进行风速反演.反演结果表明,半径法、完整傅里叶级数描述法和非线性回归法均能很好地反演风速,在误差范围内反演结果存在很好的一致性.相对于半径法和完整傅里叶级数描述法,非线性回归方法更完整地利用了观测数据信息,反演结果可信度较高.      

A Method of Inversing the Peak Density of Atomic Oxygen Vertical Distribution in the MLT Region From the OI (557.7nm) Night Airglow Intensity

In this paper, using the MSISE-90 model as the reference atmosphere, we discuss the feasibility and method of deducing the peak densities of the undisturbed atomic oxygen profiles in the MLT region (the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region) from OI (557.7 nm) night airglow intersities. The peak densities for different seasons, latitudes and longitudes are deduced from OI (557.7nm) airglow intensities through this expression. We analyze the features of inversion relative errors and discuss the influence of the variations in temperature on inversion errors. The results indicate that all inversion errors are less than 5% except for those at high altitudes in the summer hemisphere. And the impact of the variations in temperature on errors is not significant.      

135.6nm夜气辉峰值电子密度反演算法及误差

根据夜间135.6nm大气辉光光强与F₂层峰值电子密度N_mF₂平方成正比的物理机制,在前期夜间135.6nm气辉辐射激发模型研究的基础上建立了峰值电子密度的反演算法,把全球经纬度分成若干格点,每个格点的电离层及中性成分信息分别由IRI2000和MSISE90提供,将电离层及中性成分廓线输入夜气辉辐射激发模型,计算每个格点135.6nm气辉的辐射强度,然后将各个格点的135.6nm气辉辐射强度与电离层廓线输入的N_mF₂平方拟合得到气辉强度与N_mF₂的转换因子.利用此方法可获得不同地方时、季节和太阳活动周期的转换因子组成查算表,进而根据实际探测的135.6nm气辉辐射强度反演相应时空的N_mF₂.最后对该算法的反演误差进行了综合分析,为该算法适用的时空特性提供重要理论支撑.      

Application of heterogeneous mesospheric ion-chemistry model to MST radar echoes over low latitude

MST radar studies at low latitude stations have documented regions in the mesosphere from where enhanced echoes (Low Latitude Mesospheric Echoes (LMEs)) are observed. Such echoes cannot, in general, be explained by considering the dynamical aspects (such as turbulence, winds, waves, etc.) of the region alone. Mesospheric dust/aerosols can enhance the radar echoes considerably and dust is known to exist at all heights and latitudes of the mesosphere. This study investigates the presence of dusty plasma in the mesosphere through the heterogeneous ion-chemistry of the region.Dust of meteoric origin is incorporated in the conventional ion chemistry scheme and the equilibrium height profiles of charged and neutral dust densities corresponding to effective dust sizes (radii) of 1, 10 and 30 nm are computed for the equatorial quiet daytime conditions.The model derived dust density profiles show structures with respect to dust size, height and season that are indicative of the possible role of mesospheric dust in the production/enhancement mechanisms of the LMEs observed over the equatorial station at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E), India.     

Measurement of mesopause temperature from hydroxyl nightglow at Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E), India

The paper reports the nightglow observations of hydroxyl (8–3), (7–2) and (6–2) Meinel band carried out at a low latitude station Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E, dip latitude 10.6°N), India during November 2002 to May 2005 with the objective of investigating mesopause dynamics based on derived OH rotational temperature. Overall, 132 nights of quality data were collected using filter-tilting photometer and an all-sky scanning photometer. The mean mesopause temperature observed at Kolhapur is 195 ± 11, 196 ± 9 and 195 ± 7 K from OH (8–3), (7–2) and (6–2) band emissions, respectively, using transition probabilities given by Langhoff et al. [Langhoff, S.R., Werner, H.J., Rosmus, P. Theoretical transition probabilities for the OH Meinel system. Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy 118, 507–529, 1986]. Small wave-like variations (periodicities ∼ few hours) existing over long period variations in derived temperatures are also present. A steady decrease of emission intensities from evening to dawn hours has been observed in approximately 59% of nights. No significant change of nightly mean temperatures has been noted. Furthermore, about 62% of observed nightly mean temperatures lie within one error bar of MSISE-90 model predictions.     

Sodium lidar measurements of mesopause region temperatures at 23° S

A sodium lidar, capable of measuring temperature in the 80–100 km region, has been in operation at São José dos Campos (23° S, 46 W) since March 2007. Good quality data have been obtained for late autumn, winter and spring, but weather conditions make it extremely difficult to make measurements from mid-November to mid- February. We find the temperature structure to be strongly modulated by tides and gravity waves, but average profiles typically show a primary mesopause height close to 100 km with temperatures around 180 K, and a tendency for a secondary minimum of about 185 K to occur close to 90 km. Vertical temperature gradients greater than 50 K/km are sometimes seen even on profiles averaged over several hours. The strongest gradients are always positive and are frequently associated with strong gradients in sodium concentration. On the other hand, we frequently see rapid changes in the temperature profile, suggesting that models and non-local temperature measurements, as made by satellite radiometers, for example, are of little use in applications such as the analysis of gravity wave propagation seen in airglow images.     

Airglow OH emission height inferred from the OH temperature and meteor trail diffusion coefficient

Simultaneous observations of the airglow OH(6,2) band rotational temperature, TOH, and meteor trail ambipolar diffusion coefficient, D, were carried out at Shigaraki (35°N, 136°E), during PSMOS 2003 Campaign, January 28 to February 8, 2003. The OH emission height was estimated by cross correlation analysis of the TOH and D nocturnal variations. A good correlation between TOH and D was obtained at 85 km of altitude. From the nocturnal variations of TOH and D, it is found that the OH emission peak height varied from 88 km before the midnight to 84 km in the early morning. The height variation could be caused by an atmospheric tidal effect in the emission height.     

Secular variations of OH nightglow emission and of the OH intensity-weighted temperature induced by gravity–wave forcing in the MLT region

Secular variations of OH airglow (8,3) band and of the intensity-weighted temperature induced by a gravity wave packet at three latitudes in the northern hemisphere in the Mesosphere/Lower Thermosphere region are investigated using a 2-D, time-dependent, fully nonlinear OH chemistry–dynamics model. A net-cycled average survives due to wave transience and dissipation. The integrated OH (8,3) volume emission rates show a 20 percent increase induced by the wave packet. The corresponding intensity-weighted temperature shows an initial increase up to 2 percent then a gradual decrease for the remainder of the simulation time by the same wave packet. These secular variations could be mistaken as long-period or short-period waves in the airglow observations. Therefore, care must be taken when analyzing the data from observations.     

Large-scale circulation of atomic oxygen in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere

The variability of the atomic oxygen green line airglow at 557.7 nm, originating from the O(¹S) level, has a long history of observation. Only recently, global observations of the oxygen airglow, interpreted with the help of global circulation models have provided some understanding. Satellite observations of winds and temperatures clearly demonstrate the dynamical influence of tides on the daily variations. Both annual and semi-annual components of the variation have been identified as occurring over the course of the year. From the large-scale circulation of the atmosphere one expects downwelling in the winter at high latitudes, causing enhanced atomic oxygen and enhanced airglow while the opposite is expected in summer. In the present investigation a search is made for this large-scale signature using data from the WIND Imaging Interferometer on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, model results from the Thermosphere–Ionosphere–Mesosphere-Electrodynamics-Global Circulation Model, and earlier published results. A well-defined semi-annual variation of emission rate is found in the tropics, apparently the result of the semi-annual variation of the diurnal tide. Annual and semi-annual patterns are found at mid-latitudes, in satellite and model data, while ground-based observations detect only an annual variation, with a maximum in the autumn. At still higher latitudes the fall peak persists, but with a deep depletion of atomic oxygen in the springtime; this appears to be the signature of the large-scale circulation.     

Simultaneous observation of dual-site airglow imagers and a sodium temperature-wind lidar,and effect of atmospheric stability on the airglow structure

The heights of horizontal structures in the OH airglow images were observed with two all-sky imagers at Platteville (40.2N, 104.7W) and Yucca Ridge Field Station (40.7N, 104.9W) in Colorado. The sodium temperature-wind lidar of CSU at Fort Collins (40.6N, 105.1W) observed temperature and wind velocities around 80–105-km altitude, providing time-height variations of atmospheric stability. Simultaneous observations with the imagers and the lidar were successful on two nights: November 18 and 19, 2003. The estimated height from OH airglow images were lower (80–86 km) than those observed in Japan, with significant time variation. Comparison with the temperature and wind observed by the lidar showed that the estimated height is likely to coincide with the height of small N² (close to 0) values. Ripples (<10-km horizontal scale) were simultaneously observed in the image.     

Simultaneous lidar observation of peculiar sporadic K and Na layers at São José dos Campos (23.1°S, 45.9°W), Brazil

We present the first simultaneous observation of mesopause sodium (Na) and potassium (K) layer by a lidar which has Na and K channel simultaneously at the South Hemisphere site, São José dos Campos (23.1°S, 45.9°W). Measurements reported here were conducted on two nights with 3.5 and 8?h of observations in November 2016. On 20 November 2016, sporadic layers in both Na and K layer occurred above 100?km, and the higher layers corresponded well with sporadic E (Es) layer. And the density of Na at 100–105?km is higher than that at main layer around 90?km, but K density around 100?km is at least 3 times smaller compared with the K density around 90?km for the similar period. On 21 November 2016, both sporadic layers occurred in main layer height with obvious descending variations with time, which seems like tidal induced. Notably, the peak K/Na ratio slowly increased with time. And Na layer and K layer showed different processes along with time with K density reaching its maximum 1?h later than that of Na. Correlations of Na/K density, Es, and winds were also discussed.     

Seasonal variation in the solar diurnal tide and its possible influence on the atmospheric sodium layer

In a paper published 12 years ago, we showed that the height of the atmospheric sodium layer at our location is about 1 km lower in November than at any other time of the year. We also showed that the decrease in height of the sodium layer was accompanied by an increase in the intensity of the OI 557.7 nm and OH(9,4) band airglow emissions. At that time we suggested that this behavior could be the result of large scale convective transport in the MLT region. We have now had the opportunity to compare the diurnal variations of the sodium layer and airglow emissions with the tidal winds measured by meteor radar over the past 5 years. We find that the amplitude of the diurnal tide is much smaller in November than at other times of the year. Since most of the sodium measurements and all of the airglow observations are for night-time conditions only, a change in the amplitude of the 24-h tide could strongly influence the average measured sodium and airglow parameters. It is shown that the observed changes in the tidal winds are qualitatively consistent with the sodium measurements, but the amplitude of the observed height change is much greater than would be expected from the tidal winds.     

Long-term (50 years) measurements of cosmic ray fluxes in the atmosphere

Since the middle of 1957 till present time the group of researchers of P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences has carried out the regular balloon borne measurements of charged particle fluxes in the atmosphere. The measurements are performed at polar (northern and southern) and middle latitudes and cover the interval of heights from the ground level up to 30–35 km. Standard detectors of particles (gas-discharged counters) have been used. More than 80,000 measurements of cosmic ray fluxes in the atmosphere have been performed to the present time. In the data analysis the geomagnetic field and the Earth’s atmosphere are used as cosmic ray spectrometers.     

The Lyman-alpha absorption anomaly in satellite occulation measurements as a tracer for some thermospheric composition variations

The absorption anomaly of Lyman-alpha radiation in satellite occultation experiments is known as the fact that extinction above 100 km is much stronger than absorption by atmospheric O₂ alone would explain. Additional absorption by NO or H₂O has been suggested but none has been clearly identified so far. The additional absorption occurs predominantly in middle and high latitudes of the winter hemisphere, but has also been found in equatorial latitudes. Recent measurements of NO would explain the Lyman-alpha absorption anomaly. The high densities of the additional Lyman-alpha absorber at lower latitudes could be explained by transport processes through global circulation systems of the higher thermosphere. Structural variations of the neutral gas derived from occultation measurements seem to indicate that thermospheric low pressure systems in mid latitudes modulate the transport of tracer constituents and heat energy from higher latitudes to the equator.     

The contributions of the incoherent scatter radar technique to the development of thermospheric models

The contributions of the incoherent scatter radar technique to the development of thermospheric models is traced from the development of the radar technique in 1958. Emphasis is given to the qualitative information regarding thermospheric processes and behavior provided by the radar studies and the role that these results have played in the structural development of thermospheric models. The complementary nature of radar and satellite data in the development of recent models is stressed. In addition, a summary of pertinent radar developments over the past two years is presented. Primary among these are measurements made by high-latitude radars, multi-radar coordinated observations, the establishment of an incoherent scatter radar data base, and publication of a number of studies concerning high-latitude measurements, solar-cyle maximum results, long-term data sets, and lower thermosphere tides.