中纬度冬季低热层潮汐非线性相互作用的MF雷达观测

采用武汉(30°N,114°E)MF雷达在2001年冬季的风场观测数据研究中纬度低热层大气潮汐之间的二阶非线性相互作用.经向风场的Lomb-Scargle归一化振幅谱表明,周日、半日和8 h潮汐是中纬冬季中层顶区域占优势的大气扰动;此外6 h潮汐也清晰可见.双相干谱分析揭示大多数显著的双相干谱峰代表潮汐谐振分量之间的相位互相关或单个潮汐分量的自相关.对随时间变化的潮汐垂直波长的比较发现,实际观测的8h潮汐垂直波长与假定的由观测的24 h潮汐和12 h潮汐非线性相互作用产生的8 h潮汐的理论垂直波长具有明显的一致性.在94.0～98.0km高度范围,周日、半日和8h潮汐之间不仅存在明显的相位相关和垂直波数相关,且它们的振幅随时间变化也显示出振荡幅值相近、振荡相位同步或反相的相关性,表明它们之间已经发生了二阶非线性相互作用.但是在94.0 km以下,三个潮汐分量之间的各种相关性随高度的下降变得越来越弱,因此潮汐二阶相互作用更可能是一种局地和暂态的现象.      

Observations of OH(3,1) airglow emission using a Michelson interferometer at 62° S

A Michelson interferometer was used to observe the hydroxyl (OH) emission in the upper mesosphere at the King Sejong Station (62.22° S, 301.25° E), Antarctica. The instrument was installed in February 1999 and has been in routine operation since then. An intensive operational effort has resulted in a substantial data set between April and June, 1999. A spectral analysis was performed on individual data to examine the information of dominant waves. A harmonic analysis was also carried out on the monthly average data to investigate the characteristics of the major low frequency oscillations. The 12-hr temperature oscillations exhibit a striking agreement with a theoretical tidal model, supporting the tidal (migrating) origin. The 8-hr wave is found to be persistent and dominant, reflecting its major role in the upper mesospheric dynamics at the given latitude. The 6-hr oscillation is observed only in May with its value close to the prediction for zonally symmetric tides.     

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.     

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.     

AIRS观测资料研究全球平流层重力波特性

利用2012—2014年1月和7月AIRS（Atmospheric Infrared Sounder）第79通道的观测数据,分析了平流层重力波活动强弱的全球分布以及重力波发生频率的全球分布;分析了重力波活动随纬度和经度的变化特征,给出了重力波活动在全球范围内的热点区域及其活动强度;对比了白天与夜间的重力波活动强度及发生频率.研究表明重力波活动强度呈现出随纬度变化的特征,在低纬度地区（0°—30°）,冬季半球重力波活动强度低,夏季半球重力波活动高;在中高纬度地区,冬季半球重力波活动强度高而夏季半球重力波活动强度低.在1月,全球重力波活动有4个突出的热点区域,分别为50°N附近欧洲大陆与大西洋交接地带、北美洲与大西洋交接地,20°S附近南美洲与大西洋交接地区、非洲与印度洋交接地区.在7月,重力波活动突出的地方为巴塔哥尼亚至南极半岛地区,以及50°S和75°E附近的印度洋区域.重力波活动强度在夜间大于白天,但是夜间的强重力波活动区域小于白天.      

Early winter meteor wind over Bologna (45°N, 11°E)

The Bologna meteor radar was operational during two winter campaigns, from 6 January 1982 to 1 February 1982 and from 10 December 1982 to 2 February 1983. As occurrence of minor stratospheric warmings has been reported for these intervals, possible effects on meteor wind over Bologna related to this kind of warming are pointed out. Zonal and meridional prevailing winds are found to exhibit the maximum peak to peak value in their oscillations when a minor stratospheric warming reaches such an intensity that ΔT_{(90°N–60°N)} at 10 mbar is reversed. Diurnal and semidiurnal tides exhibit usual amplitude variations, but the semidiurnal tide has a noticeable phase shift at the time of a minor warming occurrence, while a similar shift is less evident in the diurnal tide phase.     

Characterization of the semi-annual-oscillation in mesospheric temperatures at low-latitudes

Novel measurements of the seasonal variability in mesospheric temperature at low-latitudes have been obtained from Maui, Hawaii (20.8°N, 156.2°W) during a 25-month period from October 2001 to January 2004. Independent observations of the OH (6, 2) Meinel band (peak height ∼87 km) and the O₂ (0–1) atmospheric band emission (∼94 km) were made using the CEDAR Mesospheric Temperature Mapper. The data revealed a coherent oscillation in emission intensity and rotational temperature with a well-defined periodicity of 181 ± 7 days. The amplitude of this oscillation was determined to be ∼5–6 K in temperature and ∼8–9% in intensity for both the OH and O₂ data sets. In addition, a strong asymmetry in the shape of the oscillation was also observed with the spring maximum significantly larger than the fall peak. These data provide new evidence in support of a semi-annual-oscillation in mesospheric temperature (and airglow emission intensities) and help quantify its seasonal characteristics.     

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.     

The identification of mesospheric frontal gravity-wave events at a mid-latitude site

Mesospheric frontal-type gravity waves are an uncommon type of wave disturbance that occurs in the mesospheric OH, Na, O₂, and O(¹S) nightglow. They are understood to be the result of gravity waves exhibiting various degrees of non-linear behavior. Despite their similar appearance in all-sky images, careful analysis reveals that there are at least two distinct types of frontal wave disturbances, each with completely different consequences in terms of vertical momentum transport and deposition. Therefore, a correct identification is important in order to characterize their propagation modes. In this report we present the frontal gravity wave activity that occurred during a twelve-month period at Millstone Hill (42.6°N, 172.5°W), a mid-latitude site, to illustrate their range of behaviors.     

Evidence for a 2200 km extended wave system at the mesopause level

A panoramic view of the nightglow atmospheric emission in the 780–1000 nm spectral range is constructed using CCD images taken at the Pic de Châteaurenard (Altitude 2989 m, Hautes-Alpes) on July 14–15, 1999. A set of 28 images each having a 36° × 36° field of view is assembled to form a panorama covering 360° in azimuth and extending from the horizon to the zenith. Each photograph is processed in order to invert the perpective effect assuming that the emission comes from a thin layer located at the altitude of 85 km. The effect of refraction is calculated and taken into account. The stars are removed using a numerical filter. The inverted panorama appears as a disk having a radius equal to 1100 km. It is comparable to a satellite view of the emissive layer. A wave system extends in the W-NW to E-SE direction over more than 2200 km. A second set of 30 successive images of the same field of view taken on May 18–19, 1998 is used to determine the wave parameters. The main horizontal wavelength is equal to 42 km and the horizontal phase velocity has a value of 40 ± 2 m.s⁻¹. The images show that the atmospheric OH emission is a tracer of the dynamics of the atmosphere at the level where the excited OH radicals are produced. The OH* radical population depends upon its quenching by O, O₂ and N₂. As a result, the emission intensity is a function of the air temperature and density which are subject to variations due to gravity and windshear waves and other dynamic processes such as tides and turbulence.     

赤道异常的行星波周期振荡的统计特征与逐年变化及其QBO调制

利用赤道异常峰区台站(Okinawa)观测的, f₀F₂资料(1977—1990), 分析计算了赤道电离层行星波周期振荡(2日、3—4日、5—7日及10—16日)的特征及其变化规律, 发现其在一年四季都有出现, 但相对强度在冬、夏季较大, 且冬季更强;其振荡周期也随季节有所变化, 以2日波而言, 夏季更接近于2日, 而冬季则多在2日多至2日半区间振荡;更长周期的波的所谓夏季峰值的出现, 还有向夏初和夏末过渡的趋势。并发现振荡与太阳活动性呈负相关, 即低年的相对幅度要强于高年, 并且周期越长负相关越显著;同时显示出振荡的出现率及频率变化受到QBO的调制, QBO东风相期间比西风相更易于出现长周期振荡。这些结果说明赤道电离层明显受到中低层大气动力学变化的向上耦合的影响。      

一种全天空气辉成像仪数据预处理方法和初步结果

大气重力波是大气中的基本波动形式之一,在中高层大气动力和热力学过程中起着十分重要的作用.全天空气辉成像仪是一种以大气气辉辐射为示踪物,能够有效对大气重力波成像的仪器.本文针对中国科学院国家空间科学中心空间天气学国家重点实验室中高层大气组自主研制的全天空气辉成像仪所观测的数据,提出了一种气辉图像预处理方法,进行平场校正、方位校正、星光去除和坐标映射等数据订正.利用该方法处理2015年5月17日21:00BLT至次日05:00BLT西宁台站（36.6°N,101.7°E）的OH气辉数据,发现一次重力波事件,分析并获得了该重力波的水平波长、观测水平相速度和传播方向（分别为17.72km,47m·s-1,339°）.研究结果表明该方法是可行的.      

Multi-year high latitude mesospheric neutral wind observations using a Fabry–Perot interferometer

From 1995 to 1999, a Fabry–Perot Interferometer was stationed at Resolute Bay, Canada (75°N, 95°W) to measure the mesospheric neutral winds in the polar cap from the OH nightglow emission during winter seasons. A 12-h wave is the most prominent feature in the neutral winds. The wave amplitude has large day-to-day variations and inter-annual variability, whereas the phase of the wave appears to be largely consistent for year to year. Small phase shift from early winter to later winter was noticed during most of the seasons when early winter data were available. The 12-h wave showed stronger variability during the 1995/1996 winter season, which may be related to nonlinear interactions with planetary waves. Large negative zonal winds were observed during stratospheric sudden warming events.     

Effect of the seed perturbation amplitude on the equatorial spread F initiation during solar minimum

The contribution of gravity wave (GW) to the initiation/development of spread F during a solar minimum year was investigated through the comparison of the observed precursory parameters and characteristics of the corresponding equatorial spread F (ESF) events. The ionospheric parameters were recorded at the magnetic equatorial station Sao Luis (2.3°S, 44°W, dip latitude 2°S) during March and October 2010. These data were used to estimate the influence of the relative gravity wave amplitude and the ambient ionospheric condition on the diurnal variation of the spread F initiation. The vertical velocity drift indicated a clear control and defines the threshold for the seasonal variability of the ESF occurrence. However, it was insufficient to solely determine or predict the day to day variation of ESF occurrence. Thus, few days with contrasting ambient ionospheric condition and magnitude of GW amplitude were analysed in order to investigate the role of the different precursory factors in the observed diurnal variation of the plasma irregularity development. The density scale length and gravity wave amplitude were shown to immensely contribute to the linear instability growth rate, especially during the days with a low post-sunset rise. Thus, the experimental observations have demonstrated the strong inter-dependence between the precursory factors and they have also highlighted the probable control of the ESF morphology.     

Wave perturbations in the MLT at high northern latitudes in winter,observed by two SATI instruments

To investigate the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) region, several ground-based instruments called SATI (Spectral Airglow Temperature Imager) were designed and built to measure airglow emission and temperature in the upper mesosphere. One SATI instrument was installed at Resolute Bay (74.7°N, 94.9°W) and has monitored the polar MLT region since November, 2001. In October 2007 another SATI instrument was installed at Eureka (80.0°N, 86.3°W) at the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) as part of the Canadian Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Change (CANDAC) project. SATI is a spatial scanning Fabry–Perot spectrometer measuring column emission rates for several rotational lines of OH and O₂ airglow at 87 and 94 km height. The rotational temperatures are inferred from the ratios of these lines. The measurements are divided into 12 sectors with an annular field of view. The phase differences between the sectors yield information on the horizontal atmospheric wave direction and wavelength. Horizontal perturbations of 2–8 h period have correlatively been observed and investigated at both locations. Short-periodic oscillations identified as gravity waves with periods between 2 and 8 h propagate in southward and eastward directions, but in opposite directions in some cases. The wave propagation characteristics are often different at the two locations; the relationship with the lower mean wind is considered.     

The ionospheric effect of atmospheric gravity waves excited prior to strong earthquake

We have computed perturbations in the nighttime mid-latitude F2 region ionosphere that could be produced by internal atmospheric gravity waves generated before strong earthquakes through ionospheric Joule heating due to the seismogenic electric field of short duration. There is a strong anisotropy of the atmospheric gravity wave effect with respect to the imminent earthquake epicentre, the electron density changes being maximum poleward and equatorward of the epicentre and being minimum eastward and westward of it. It should be noted that the duration of the electron density perturbation in the F2 region ionosphere is much longer than the duration of the primary precursor of an earthquake – the enhancement of the vertical electric field at the Earth’s surface, which initiates the atmospheric gravity wave generation. This fact is important from the practical point of view of predicting catastrophic earthquakes.     

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.     

中纬度冬季低热层潮汐水平风分量相位关系的MF雷达观测

采用武汉(30°N,114°E)MF雷达在2001年冬季的风场观测数据研究中纬度低热层大气潮汐水平风分量之间的相位关系.统一用弧度定义的各潮汐经纬向分量的拟合初相位在三个连续的高度上分别显示出相同的时间变化倾向和相近的相位差,但是在绝大多数观测时间△ψ24和△ψ12准正交,而△ψ8出乎意料地准同相.周日、半日和8 h潮汐经纬向分量的二次相位耦合(QPC)方程被分别估计出来,利用它们相减还得到一个潮汐相位差相关方程.推测的8 h潮汐相位和相位差与相应的观测值很好地符合.在第14个时间窗内,三个潮汐一般表现为椭圆偏振而不是圆偏振或线偏振,但是△ψ24和△ψ12在三个连续的高度上准正交,而△ψ8在92.0和94.0 km上准同相.因此估计的潮汐QPC方程、推导的潮汐相位差相关方程、观测的8 h潮汐准同相相位差以及典型的潮汐偏振图都是观测的周日、半日和8 h潮汐之间真实QPC的反映.      

Ionospheric perturbations due to earthquakes as determined from VLF and GPS-TEC data analysis at Agra,India

Employing SoftPAL receiver, amplitude variations of VLF transmitter signals NWC (19.8?kHz) and NPM (21.4?kHz) are analyzed at Agra station in India (Geograph. lat. 27.2°N, long. 78°E) ±15?days from five major earthquakes of magnitude M?=?6.9–8.5 occurred in Indian subcontinent during the years 2011–2013. We apply nighttime fluctuation (NF) method and show that in almost all cases the trend decreases and dispersion and NF increase on the same days corresponding to each earthquake about 11–15?days prior to the main shock. Assuming that the ionospheric perturbations are caused by atmospheric gravity waves (AGW), we also calculate AGW modulation index for each case and find its values increased on the days amplitude fluctuations take place. Its value is decreased in one case only where the perturbations may be attributed to penetration of seismogenic electric field.In order to support the above results we also present GPS-TEC data analyzed by us corresponding to three of the above earthquakes. We study the TEC anomalies (unusual enhancements) and find that in one case the precursory period is almost the same as that found in NF method.