Japanese research project on Arctic and Antarctic observations of the middle atmosphere

An all-sky optical imager is in routine observation at the South Pole. Monochromatic images of aurora and air glow at N₂⁺ 427.8nm, OI 557.7nm, OI 630nm and OH 730nm are supplying significant information on the magnetospheric process in the polar cap and cusp/cleft region along with atmospheric wave signature at this particular point. SuperDARN radars in Antarctica make observations over the South Pole.

At Syowa Station, Antarctica, a multi-instrumental observation project is now being implemented for the study of the polar upper atmosphere from the mesosphere to the thermosphere, where complex physical and chemical processes take place making the region very attractive for scientific research. Two HF radars, which are part of SuperDARN radars, have been already installed and started observations. By the end of 1999, all-sky imagers, photo meters, a Na temperature Lidar, an MF radar and a Fabry-Perot interferometer will be introduced and start collecting various physical parameters on a routine basis.

In the Arctic region, we are planning to deploy coordinated ground-based observations with optical, radio and radar sensing of the polar middle and upper atmosphere in conjunction with EISCAT radars. Scientific goals are versatile to shed light on the tangled coupling processes in response to magnetospheric disturbances from above and bi-lateral interactions with high-density lower atmospheric layers. These are outlined in this paper.