Southern Hemisphere Mid-Latitude Neutral Mesospheric and Thermospheric Dynamics and Thermodynamics

由于水平输送、行星尺度波动和这些区域的耦合的中心重要性，必须在全球范围内研究包括中间层和热层在内的高层大气区域的动力学和热力学。 对这些区域的调查大多在北方半球进行，而对南半球的调查则在南极洲以及澳大利亚和新西兰的低中纬度地区进行。 这笔赠款将支持美国参与操作坎特伯雷大学约翰山天文台的光学高分辨率光谱仪。 PI将扩大对南半球中间层和低热层（MLT）运动和温度同时动态的光学调查。 他将重新研究这些运动的气候学，沿着这些高度的动力学温度。

Dynamics and thermodynamics of the upper atmospheric regions including mesosphere and thermosphere must be studied on a global scale because of the central importance of horizontal transport, planetary-scale waves, and coupling of these regions. Most investigations of these regions have been in the northern hemisphere, while those in the southern hemisphere have been made in Antarctica and at low midlatitudes in Australia and New Zealand. This grant will support U.S. involvement in operating an optical high-resolution spectrometer at the University of Canterbury's Mount John Astronomical Observatory. The PI will expand upon optical investigations of the simultaneous dynamics of the southern hemisphere mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT)'s motions and temperature. He will re-investigate the climatology of these motions, along with kinetic temperature at those heights.