COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: CEDAR: Mid-latitude Studies of the Middle Atmosphere Using Rayleigh and Raman Lidar

马里兰大学开发的激光雷达系统正在犹他州立大学恢复运行，作为熊湖天文台(BLO)设施的一部分，熊湖天文台是中纬度雪松天文台。激光雷达最初将在30-70公里的高度范围内进行观测，就像以前在学院公园所做的那样，覆盖平流层上层和中间层下层。克莱姆森大学将增加一台更强大的激光器，将高度覆盖范围扩大到80公里。在中层顶附近的较高海拔，这些激光雷达观测将得到BLO的被动光学仪器的补充。分子密度和温度的垂直分布将从30公里以上的大气中的晴空部分得到，使用532纳米处的瑞利散射。这些剖面向下延伸到Mie(微粒)散射显著增加的区域，激光雷达回波将利用大气分子的拉曼散射。这些剖面将被用来研究广袤山区上空中间大气中行星波、潮汐和重力波的发生、结构、相互作用和变异性。该奖项为PI提供资金，以帮助使系统在BLO运行，并开始测量。

A lidar system developed at the University of Maryland is being restored to operation at Utah State University, as part of the Bear Lake Observatory (BLO) facilities - a mid-latitude CEDAR observatory. Lidar observations will be made initially in the altitude range 30-70 km, as done previously at College Park, covering the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere. The altitude coverage will be extended with the addition of a more powerful laser by Clemson University upward to 80 km. At higher altitudes, near the mesopause, these lidar observations will be complemented by the passive optical instruments at BLO. Vertical profiles of molecular density and temperature will be derived from clear-air portions of the atmosphere above 30 km, using Rayleigh scattering at 532 nm. The downward extension of these profiles into regions were Mie (particulate) scattering significantly adds to the lidar return will employ Raman scattering from atmospheric molecules. These profiles will be used to examine the occurrence, structure, interaction, and variability of planetary waves, tides, and gravity waves in the middle atmosphere above an extended mountainous region. This award provides funds for the PI to help make the system operational at BLO, and begin measurements.