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型，研究了重力波耗散的动力学输运及其对中顶区域垂直组成结构的影响。为了量化动力学输运的影响，利兹大学将修改中间层Na和其他次要成分的化学模型，以包括由Na风/温度激光雷达测量估计的垂直动力学输运。这些改进模型的模拟结果将与在新墨西哥州Starfire光学靶场（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）进行的全年广泛的钠激光雷达测量结果进行比较。这项工作将与利兹大学的John M. C. Plane教授和他的团队合作完成。目的是定量估计各种成分的垂直动态通量，并比较它们对这些成分的垂直分布和化学性质的影响。本研究的主要科学目标是：1)通过分析SOR和mss的实测热量和Na通量的季节变化，验证垂直热量与组分通量之间的理论关系；2)利用热量与组分通量之间的关系，对利兹大学的中间层组分化学模型进行升级，使其包含GW输运的显著影响；3)通过模式预测与观测的比较，量化GW通量对中间层Na层结构季节变化的相对影响；4)对Na模式进行调校，重现SOR和MSSS的激光雷达观测资料，估算80 ~ 105 km涡动扩散系数剖面的季节变化；5)评估GW输运对其他重要中间层成分（如奇数O和奇数h）结构的影响。项目包括博士后1名，研究生1名，将在中层大气动力学与化学、遥感工程技术、信号处理等方面积累研究经验。

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.