A Study of Mesospheric Radar Scattering Processes

在这个为期一年的研究计划中，将寻求对1989年3月至5月阿雷西博大气动力学倡议（AIDA '89）期间测量的非相干散射和部分反射雷达数据分析推断出的运动之间的不一致的解释。将利用的主要数据源来自阿雷西博天文台的超高频非相干散射雷达（ISR）观测、犹他州立大学成像多普勒干涉测量（IDI）中频雷达和地球空间研究流星风雷达（MWR）。调查将集中于所涉及的散射机制，至少在IDI的情况下，这些机制尚未得到充分了解。IDI散射点可能来自平均流中的湍流涡流，也可能是单个重力波锋面的镜面反射。为了解决这个问题，研究人员将在很大程度上依赖于紊流介质中波浪传播的大量现有知识，以及现有的中间层小尺度运动“快照”档案——由火箭释放的化学痕迹的高分辨率照片揭示的较低热层高度。

A Study of Mesospheric Radar Scattering In this one year program of research, an explanation will be sought for the disagreement between motions inferred from the analysis of incoherent scatter and partial reflection radar data as measured during the Arecibo Initiative on the Dynamics of the Atmosphere, March through May, 1989 (AIDA '89). The principal data sources to be utilized come from the Arecibo observatory UHF incoherent scatter radar (ISR) observations, from the Utah State University imaging doppler interferometry (IDI) MF radar and from the Geospace Research meteor wind radar (MWR). The investigation will concentrate on the scattering mechanisms involved, which, at least in the case of the IDI, are as yet not fully understood. The IDI scattering points may originate from turbulent eddies in the mean flow, or they may be specular reflection from individual gravity wave fronts. To address this problem the investigators will rely heavily on the considerable body of knowledge available on the propagation of waves in turbulent media, and on an existing archive of "snapshots" of small scale motions at mesospheric - lower thermospheric altitudes as revealed by high resolution photography of rocket released chemical trails.