Longitudinal MLT wind structure at higher mid-latitudes as seen by meteor radars at central and Eastern Europe (13°E/49°E)

The mid-latitude mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) wind speeds measured by two SKiYMET meteor radars (MRs) at Collm (51°N, 13°E) and Kazan (56°N, 49°E) during 2016–2017 were analyzed to study longitudinal wind structures. The differences between monthly mean prevailing wind speeds and tidal amplitudes were compared with the corresponding differences obtained from TIMED/TIDI satellite winds and gradient wind speeds from the AURA/MLS instrument. It is shown that the MR wind difference between the two sites is statistically significant. The difference of the horizontal prevailing winds can be explained by a superposition of the background zonal flow, which is different at the two latitudes, with stationary planetary waves of different origin. Non-migrating tides contribute significantly to the difference of the semidiurnal tidal winds between the two sites.     

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.     

Thermospheric winds over Abuja during solar minimum period

Monthly variations of averaged nighttime thermospheric winds have been investigated over Abuja, Nigeria (Geographic: 9.06°N, 7.5°E; Geomagnetic: 1.60°S). The reports are based on Fabry-Perot interferometer measurements of Doppler shifts and Doppler broadening of the 630.0 nm spectral emission. The results were obtained during a period of weak solar activity with the solar flux (F10.7) typically below 70 solar flux units. Inspection of the average monthly thermospheric winds from October 2017 to December 2017 found December meridional winds to be more equatorward than the October and November winds. Zonal winds are eastward with pre-midnight maximum speeds going above 100 m/s. Compared to Jicamarca zonal winds in the Peruvian sector for the same month of October, the magnitude of maximum Abuja zonal wind speed is weaker. We compare the observed diurnal variation with the recently updated Horizontal wind model (HWM 14). Most of the observational features of thermospheric wind diurnal variation are captured in the model variation. The HWM14 generally showed good agreement with the Abuja October and November zonal wind observations but overestimates the December meridional winds. Expected longer period analysis of the results from Abuja will stimulate a better understanding of wind climatology over the West African sector.     

Equatorial planetary waves in the mesosphere observed by airglow periodic oscillations

Planetary scale waves in the equatorial upper mesosphere were studied by measuring the airglow OI557.7 nm, O₂b(0,1) and OH(6,2) emission intensities and OH rotational temperature at São João do Cariri (7.4°S; 36.5°W). From four years of data, 1998–2001, periodic oscillations of the airglow emissions were analyzed using the Lomb–Scargle spectral analysis. An oscillation of 3–4 days was frequently observed, which might be ultra-fast Kelvin waves. No seasonal dependency of the wave activity was found. On some occasions we found a quasi-5-day oscillation with a phase difference between the emissions, suggesting an upward energy flow. This is interpreted as a normal mode Rossby wave.     

Mid-latitude thermospheric zonal winds during the equinoxes

The diurnal variation of the mid-latitude upper thermosphere zonal winds during equinoxes has been studied using data recently generated from CHAMP measurements from 2002 to 2004 using an iterative algorithm. The wind data was separated into two geomagnetic activity levels, representing high geomagnetic activity level (Ap > 8) and low geomagnetic activity level (Ap ? 8). The data were further separated into two solar flux levels; with F10.7 > 140 for high and F10.7 ? 140 for low. Geomagnetic activity is a correlator just as significant as solar activity. The response of mid-latitude thermospheric zonal winds to increases in geomagnetic disturbances and solar flux is evident. With increase in geomagnetic activity, midday to midnight winds are generally less eastward and generally more westward after the about midnight transitions. The results show that east west transitions generally occurred about midnight hours for all the situations analyzed. The west to east transition occurs from 1400–1500 MLT. Enhanced westward averaged zonal wind speeds going above 150 ms⁻¹ are observed in the north hemisphere mid-latitude about sunrise hours (∼0700–1100 MLT). Nighttime winds in the north hemisphere are in good agreement with previous single station ground observations over Millstone Hill. Improved ground observations and multi satellite observations from space will greatly improve temporal coverage of the Earth’s thermosphere.     

On the role of tidal winds in the descending of the high type of sporadic layer (Esh)

As the prevailing tidal winds in the E region are generated by heating mechanisms, the dynamics of Es layers impacted by solar tides is a relevant theme in the space weather studies. This paper aims to identify the tidal wind component involved in the mechanism of formation and descending of the high type of sporadic layer (Es_h). The Es_h layers observed at altitudes between around 120 and 150 km in the Brazilian low latitude stations of Jataí and São José dos Campos during the months of April, June, September and December of 2016 are used in this analysis. The height variability and altitude descent of the Es_h layers are analyzed from the h′Es parameter obtained by ionosonde data. In this study, the observational data are compared with the simulations generated by an extended version of the Ionospheric E-Region Model (MIRE). At higher altitudes in the E region, the results show that the prevailing tidal pattern and wind direction controlling the Es_h layer formation and descent are different depending on month: (a) in April and June the zonal wind component and the associated semidiurnal tidal oscillations prevail, with some differences in terms of time of occurrence and descending speeds, and (b) in September and December the diurnal tidal periodicities become dominant, and both the meridional and zonal wind components seem to control the descending of the Es_h layers. Since the role of the tidal periodicities and wind directions changed depending on the month, the results suggest a possible seasonal tidal wind pattern, which is not well understood from the present study but requires further investigation. Other relevant aspects of the observations and the modeling are highlighted and discussed.     

Some features of the day-to-day MLT wind variability in winter 2017–2018 as seen with a European/Siberian meteor radar network

We present results of wind measurements near the mesopause carried out with meteor radars (MRs) at Collm (51°N, 13°E), Obninsk (55°N, 37°E), Kazan (56°N, 49°E), Angarsk (52°N, 104°E) and Anadyr (65°N, 178°E) from October 1, 2017 till March 31, 2018. The Collm and Kazan MRs are SKiYMET radars with vertical transmission and radio echo height finding, while the other radars operate with horizontal transmission and without height finding. We paid particular attention to the meridional wind variability with periods of 4–6 days and 9–11 days. The waves with these periods are seen as spots of the wave activity in the wavelet spectra and include oscillations with different periods and different discrete zonal wavenumbers. These wave packets successively propagate as a group of waves from one site to another one in such a way that they are observed at one site and almost disappear at the previous one. The 4–6 wave group includes planetary-scale oscillations (individual spectral components) which have eastward phase velocities and mostly zonal wavenumbers 2 and 3, and the vertical wavelength exceeds 70 km at middle latitudes. The source of the oscillations is the polar jet instability. The wave group itself propagates westward, and the amplitudes of wind oscillations are approximately 5–6 m/s as obtained from the wind data averaged over the meteor zone. The 9–11 day wave set propagates westward as a group and mainly consists of spectral components which have westward phase velocity and zonal wavenumber 1. Amplitudes of these wind perturbations strongly vary from station to station and can reach, approximately, 8 m/s. The vertical wavenumber is 0.014 km⁻¹ as taken from the Kazan and 0.05 km⁻¹ according to the Collm data. We obtained a global view on the waves by using the AURA MLS geopotential data. We found a good correspondence between wave features obtained from the MR wind measurements and the MLS data. To our knowledge, such a wave propagation of planetary wave in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region has so far not obtained much attention.     

中国廊坊中间层和低热层大气平均风观测模拟

利用中国廊坊站（39.4°N,116.7°E）流星雷达在2012年4月1日至2013年3月31日的水平风场观测数据,分析廊坊上空80~100km的中间层与低热层（Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere,MLT）大气平均纬向风和经向风的季节变化特征.结果表明平均纬向风和经向风都表现出明显的季节变化特征.平均纬向风在冬季MLT盛行西风,极大值位于中间层顶,随高度增加西风减弱;在夏季中间层为东风,低热层为强西风,风向转换高度约为82km.平均经向风在冬季以南风为主,在夏季盛行北风.纬向风和经向风在春秋两季主要表现为过渡阶段.流星雷达观测结果与WACCM4模式和HWM93模式模拟的气候变化特点基本一致,但WACCM4模式纬向风和经向风风速偏大,而HWM93模式纬向风和经向风风速偏小.      

平流层爆发性增温事件中大气准16日行星波

2014年1月上中旬高纬平流层发生弱增温事件,增温幅度约25K,纬向西风减弱并于2月初转向.行星波在平流层爆发性增温（SSW）事件产生中具有重要作用.利用北半球近东经120°链上中低纬5个流星雷达探测的风场数据,研究了此SSW事件发生前和发生期间中间层和低热层区（MLT）大气风场的行星波状况.结果显示,极区平流层增温前MLT区大气呈现出明显增强的准16日波动,增温达到最大时,16日波也最强,表明中低纬MLT区的行星波变化与SSW事件存在耦合关系.进一步利用欧洲中心平流层再分析资料数据,分析SSW期间北半球平流层的波动和零风线状况,发现平流层准16日波和零风线随时间由低纬向高纬移动,反映出16日波与SSW之间存在某种动力学联系.      

Quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of tropical total ozone under alternative QBO scenarios of equatorial stratospheric wind

Equatorial total column ozone variations with quasi-biennial periodicity are described by paying attention to their coupling with the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of zonal wind in equatorial stratosphere. Analysis is made for the 35-year time interval from 1978 to 2013 using the zonal mean total ozone (TOZ) data in latitude band from 5° S to 5° N derived from satellite measurements by means of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). The study was performed using strong seasonal regularities of the wind QBO and the discrete variation of the QBO-period revealed earlier. The forecast of the wind QBO evolution made in Gabis (2012) is fully justified. The comparison between predicted and actually observed changes of the height wind structure shows the prominent accordance, which confirms the forecast validity. It is shown that variations of deseasonalized TOZ are in strong coupling with changes of equatorial wind QBO that coincides with the numerous previous researches. However our results contradict the assumption about quite complicated ozone response in the equatorial region due to continuously varying with time relationship between annual and quasi-biennial cycles and irregularly variable wind QBO-period. The total ozone changes actually observed clearly corresponds to the mean ozone variations calculated for different QBO scenarios and aligned according to the sequence of QBO scenarios already occurred in fact. This close association indicates the possibility of forecasting the equatorial total ozone QBO based on the predicted wind QBO.     

The 16-day waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere over Wuhan (30.6°N, 114.5°E) and Adelaide (35°S, 138°E)

Winds from a meteor radar at Wuhan (30.6°N, 114.5°E) and a MF radar at Adelaide (35°S, 138°E) are used to study the 16-day waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). The height range is 78–98 km at Wuhan and 70–98 km at Adelaide. By comparison, it is found that the zonal components at both sites are generally larger than the meridional ones, and eastward motion of the zonal background winds is favorable for the 16-day waves penetration to the MLT region. The zonal maximum amplitude appears in the autumn (September–October) around 86–98 km at Wuhan and in the winter months and early spring (July–October) around 72–82 km at Adelaide. Differences are found in wave amplitudes and time of appearance between the two years of 2002 and 2003. In 2003, the intensity of the wave amplitudes is relatively smaller than that for 2002 at both sites. The summer 16-day waves are comparatively weaker at Adelaide in both years, but stronger in 2002 at Wuhan near the mesopause and the lower thermosphere (86–98 km). The strong summer waves at Wuhan may come from the winter southern hemisphere.     

Seasonal,annual, and interannual variability in MLT quasi-two-day waves over the low-latitude region Kolhapur (16.8°N; 74.2°E)

This study presents the quasi-two-day wave (Q2DW) characteristics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region obtained by taking hourly mean values of horizontal wind velocities for 4? years (August 2013–July 2017) through continuous measurements using a medium-frequency (MF) radar (operating frequency – 1.98?MHz) located at the low-latitude Indian station Kolhapur (16.8°N; 74.2°E). The MF radar located at Kolhapur was upgraded in 2013, and these results of Q2DW have been reported for the first time after upgrading. The present study investigated variability in seasonal, annual, interannual, and solar indices of Q2DWs traveling in zonal (EW) and meridional (NS) components in the MLT region. The Q2DW activity is observed to be stronger during austral summer (January–February) (EW?=?～5?m/s and NS?=?～8–10?m/s) than during boreal summer (June–July) (EW = ～5 m/s and NS = ～6–8?m/s). The Q2DW amplitudes are larger in the meridional component than in the zonal one. A strong semiannual oscillation (SAO) has been observed in Q2DWs, with peak during January–February and June–July. In addition, small enhancement is seen in meridional Q2DW in October (～5–6?m/s). It is observed that the entire spectrum (40–60?h) measured between 86 and 94?km contributes to the SAO amplitudes during January–February and June–July, whereas the waves measured between 42?h and 52?h contribute to enhancement in October similar to that reported elsewhere. In general, the Q2DW amplitude shows large interannual variability. The easterlies developed in the global circulation model in Northern hemisphere during May intensify up to around summer solstice. Q2DW activity peaks during westerly shear zone and intensifies with time at a lower thermospheric altitude (above 90?km). Small positive correlations (r?=?0.2 for sunspot number and r?=?0.1 for 10.7?cm solar flux) have been observed between Q2DW amplitudes and solar activity.     

Development of wind observational models for the upper atmosphere of the earth based on the joint analysis of direct and indirect sounding data

Earlier latitudinal distribution models of zonal winds were developed mainly along the 80°W meridian [1, 2]. In this paper an attempt is made to take into account longitudinal differences in zonal and meridional wind distributions. These are considerable in winter prediods.     

武汉上空中层顶区域潮汐的MF雷达观测

利用武汉中频雷达观测数据进行分析,研究2至3月份武汉上空中层顶潮汐结构及其随高度和时间变化的特性.用Lomb-Scargle周期图方法计算的水平风场动态功率谱表明,武汉上空存在持续的周日潮汐,是中层顶区域风场结构的主要成分.周日潮的平均振幅随高度的增加呈先增后减的趋势.大多数情况下,潮汐谱峰对应的频率与定义值有一定的偏移.周日潮水平扰动速度矢量随时问和高度变化的轨迹表明,经向分量的相位比纬向分量的相位超前,潮汐能量向上传播,对应于向下的相位传播速度.计算得出的经向分量和纬向分量的垂直相速度分别为1.10和1.15 km/h.      

Excitations of nonmigrating diurnal tides in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere simulated by the Kyushu-GCM

Excitation mechanisms of nonmigrating diurnal tides in the MLT region simulated by the Kyushu-GCM are examined. It is shown that the westward propagating diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber s = 2 is mainly excited by nonlinear interactions between the migrating diurnal tide and the stationary planetary wave with zonal wavenumber s = 1, while the nonlinear excitation of the standing diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber s = 0 is less important than the excitation by tropospheric heating. Nonlinear interactions between the migrating diurnal tide and the stationary planetary wave with zonal wavenumber s = 2 are not dominant to excite the westward propagating diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber s = 3, and it is shown that the excitation by tropospheric heating is comparable to the nonlinear excitation. It is also shown that other nonmigrating diurnal tides are excited by tropospheric heating.     

Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (60–110 km): A global distribution from radar systems (MF,Meteor, VHF)

During the last decade a large number of radars (～12) have been developed, which have produced substantial quantities of tidally-corrected mean winds data. The distribution of the radars is not global, but many areas are well covered: the Americas with Poker Flat (65°N), Saskatoon (52°N), Durham (43°N), Atlanta (34°N), Puerto Rico (18°N); Europe with Kiruna (68°), Garchy (47°N) and Monpazier (44°N); and Oceania with Christchurch (44°S), Adelaide (35°S), Townsville (20°S), and Kyoto (35°N). Zonal and meridional wind height-time cross-sections from $\text{60}\text{80}$ km (MF/Meteor Radar) to ～110 km have been prepared for the last 5–6 years. They are compared with cross-sections from CIRA-72 for zonal winds, and Groves (1969) for meridional winds.It is shown that while CIRA-72 is still a useful model for many purposes, significant differences exist between it and the new radar data. The latter demonstrate important seasonal, latitudinal, longitudinal and hemispheric variations. The new meridional cross-sections are of great value. The common features with Groves (1969) are the equatorward cells in summer near 85 km; however their strength (～10 ms^?1) and size are less. Systematic and somewhat different variations emerge at higher (?52°N) and middle (35–44°) latitudes.     

The day-to-day variability in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere in low latitudes: A study using MF radar

This study presents the analysis of planetary waves (PWs) using daily mean wind velocities for four years (August 2013 to July 2017) of continuous measurements using MF radar over the low latitude Indian region Kolhapur (16.8° N; 74.2° E). The MF radar at Kolhapur was upgraded in 2013. These are the first results of PWs after the upgradation of MF radar. The seasonal and intra-seasonal variabilities of East-West (EW) traveling PWs in the MLT region have been studied. In the present work, the data was analyzed to study the waves with various periodicities (e.g. 3–4, 5–8, 15–17, and 30–60 days). The 3.5 day [Ultra-Fast Kelvin (UFK)] wave shows semiannual variability with burst like wave activity observed during the summer months and December solstice. In addition, it is observed to be stronger in the spring equinoctial period. A strong semiannual oscillation (SAO) has been observed in a 6.5-day wave with peaks near the equinoxes. Similar to SAO over the low latitude MLT region, the wave activity is stronger in April/May than in September/October. The 6.5-day waves are observed to be stronger when the background mean wind is westward. From the analysis, it has been seen that the period before and after the equinoctial period is favorable for the 6.5-day wave propagation. The 16-day wave has no significant seasonal dependence; instead, the waves spread to almost all seasons. The Madden-Julian Oscillations (MJOs) have been observed to be propagating with an average wind speed of ～ 5 m/s when the background mean wind is eastward. The occurrence of MJO is observed during the summer and winter months. These results are the first of their kind in two aspects: first, they show the PWs with enhanced altitude coverage covering up to 110 km, and second, they show the PWs not contaminated due to equatorial electro jet influence.     

Proposal for a reference model of the middle atmosphere of the southern hemisphere

Available rocketsonde information has been used to compile tables of monthly mean temperature, pressure, density and zonal wind for the middle atmosphere of the southern hemisphere with the purpose of revising similar tables presented to COSPAR earlier. The altitude range is 25 to 80 km in steps of 5 km. The latitude range is 0° to 70°S with a 10° step. The compatability of different sets of temperature measurements is discussed. Mean values of temperature, pressure and zonal wind obtained for the southern hemisphere are compared with northern hemisphere model values. Large differences between the hemispheres (up to 20°C in temperature, 20–30% in pressure, 30–50 m/s in wind) imply that reference atmospheres such as CIRA should be complemented by southern hemisphere climatology.     

Response of quasi-10-day waves in the MLT region to the sudden stratospheric warming in March 2020

We present an analysis of the response of quasi-10-day waves (Q10DWs) to the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event which occurred on March 23, 2020. The Q10DWs are observed in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region by three meteor radars, which are located at middle latitudes along the 120°E meridian from Mohe (MH, 53.5°N, 122.3°E), Beijing (BJ, 40.3°N, 116.2°E), to Wuhan (WH, 30.5°N, 114.6°E). The Q10DWs reveal similar temporal and altitudinal variations during the SSW in the MLT region at the three stations. The activities of Q10DWs are also captured in the temperature measurements from the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) on the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite in the MLT region. Further analysis of the Q10DW phases indicates that the Q10DWs might be in situ generated due to mesospheric instabilities at higher latitudes around MH and then propagate southward to lower latitudes at BJ and WH. The atmospheric instabilities are not directly responsible for the excitations of Q10DWs at lower latitudes, while the observed equatorward propagation of the Q10DWs is important. Our result provides the observational evidence for latitudinal couplings in the MLT region after the SSW onset, which is achieved by southward propagating planetary waves in the MLT region.     

Investigation on the MLT tidal variability during September 2019 minor sudden stratospheric warming

Tidal variability in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) during September 2019 Southern hemisphere minor sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is investigated utilizing ground-based meteor radar wind observations from the equatorial, extratropical, middle, and high latitude stations and global reanalysis dataset. The polar warming is found to move from the mesosphere to the stratosphere until the peak warming day (PWD) of the SSW. The diurnal and semidiurnal tides at individual observational sites do not exhibit any consistent response during the observational interval, but a notable and consistent variability in some specific zonal wavenumber components, i. e., DW1 (migrating diurnal tide), DE3 (nonmigrating eastward wavenumber 3 diurnal tide), and SW2 (migrating semidiurnal tide) is found in the global reanalysis dataset. Incidentally, the warming event occurs during Spring equinox when a dominant seasonal change in the tidal activities generally takes place and hence seasonal variability is also looked into while identifying the SSW impact during the observational interval. It is found that the seasonal broad changes in the DW1, DE3, and SW2 amplitudes can be explained by the variability in the tidal sources, i.e., water vapor, convective activity, ozone, etc during the observational period. However, the extracted short-term variability in the global tidal modes on removing seasonal trend reveals noticeable response in connection with the warming event. The deseasoned amplitude of the DW1 significantly enhances around the PWD at most of the present latitudes. The deseasoned DE3 amplitude responds significantly in the middle atmosphere at low latitudes during the warming phase. The deseasoned SW2 exhibit clear enhancement around the PWD at all the latitudes. However, the deseasoned tidal features do not seem to correlate well with that of the source species unlike the seasonal ones that imply involvement of complex processes during the warming event, seeking further future investigations in this regard.