Lidar and Modeling Studies of Constituent Fluxes by Dissipating Gravity Waves in the Mesopause Region

本项目利用激光雷达观测和化学模式研究了重力波耗散的动力输送及其对中层顶区垂直成分结构的影响。为了量化动力输送的影响，利兹大学将对中层Na和其他次要组分的化学模型进行修改，以包括根据Na风/温度激光雷达测量估计的垂直动力输送。然后将这些修正模型的模拟与新墨西哥州星火光学范围(SOR、Na、温度和通量观测)和夏威夷毛伊岛空间监视系统(MSSS、Na、温度和通量观测)全年进行的广泛的钠激光雷达测量进行比较。这项工作将与利兹大学的约翰·M·C·普兰教授和他的团队合作完成。其目的是获得不同成分的垂直动力通量的定量估计，并比较它们对这些成分的垂直分布和化学的影响。这项研究的主要科学目标是：1)通过分析SOR和MSSS观测到的热通量和钠通量的季节变化，验证垂直热通量和组分通量之间的理论关系；2)利用热通量和组分通量之间的关系，升级利兹大学的中层组分化学模式，以包括GW输送的显著影响；3)通过比较模式预测和观测，量化GW通量对中层Na层结构季节变化的相对影响；4)通过调整Na模式以再现SOR和MSSS的激光雷达观测，估计80至105公里之间涡旋扩散系数廓线的季节变化；5)评估GW输送对其他重要的中间层成分，如奇数O和奇数H的结构的影响。该项目包括一名博士后研究员和一名研究生参加，他们将获得中间大气动力学和化学研究、遥感工程技术和信号处理方面的经验。

This project is an investigation of the dynamical transport by dissipating gravity waves and their impact on the vertical constituent structure in the mesopause region, using lidar observations and chemical models. To quantify the effects of dynamical transport, the University of Leeds chemical models of mesospheric Na and other minor constituents will be modified to include the vertical dynamical transport estimated from Na wind/temperature lidar measurements. The simulations of these modified models will then be compared with the extensive sodium lidar measurements that were conducted throughout the year at the Starfire Optical Range in New Mexico (SOR, Na, temperature, and flux observations) and Maui Space Surveillance System, in Hawaii (MSSS, Na, temperature, and flux observations). This work will be done in collaboration with Professor John M. C. Plane and his group at the University of Leeds. The objectives are to obtain quantitative estimates of vertical dynamical fluxes of various constituents, and compare their effects on the vertical distribution and chemistry of these constituents. The key scientific goals of this research are: 1) to verify the theoretical relationship between the vertical heat and constituent fluxes by analyzing the seasonal variations of the measured heat and Na fluxes at SOR and MSSS; 2) to upgrade the University of Leeds chemical models of mesospheric constituents to include the significant affects of GW transport by employing the relationships between heat and constituent fluxes; 3) to quantify the relative influence of GW flux on the seasonal variations of the structure of the mesospheric Na layer by comparing model predictions with observations; 4) to estimate the seasonal variations of the eddy diffusion coefficient profile between 80 and 105 km by tuning the Na model to reproduce the lidar observations at SOR and MSSS; 5) to assess the influence of GW transport on the structure of other important mesospheric constituents such as odd O and odd H. The project includes the participation of a post-doctoral researcher and a graduate student, who will gain experience in research on middle atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, engineering techniques in remote sensing, and signal processing.