Lower Thermosphere Coupling Study

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The atmosphere is in a state of continual motion, and to understand and to be able to predict its motions we need to be able to make measurements of the winds, waves, and tides in it. We need to be able to compare the results with numerical models from large computers that simulate atmospheric dynamics. The height region 80-150km altitude is one of the hardest to observe, being too high for balloons and too low for spacecraft. New radar and optical techniques are being put into the field to obtain data for comparison with global models of the region and its dynamical coupling with the lower and higher regions. The focus for these efforts is the interpretation of radar and optical measurements of winds and temperatures during three or more 5-6 day world campaigns specifically devoted to the 80- 150km height region. One area of study involves the numerical simulation of atmospheric tidal propagation from lower to upper levels, and interpretation of observed wind and temperature oscillations in the mesosphere, lower thermosphere, and upper thermosphere. The way in which ionosphere/thermosphere interactions affect the coupling between the low and upper thermosphere will also be investigated. The Principal Investigator is playing a leading role in the organization of this campaign, and will coordinate the assembly of results for comparison with models.