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

该项目是利用激光雷达观测和化学模型，调查耗散重力波的动力传输及其对中层顶区域垂直组成结构的影响。为了量化动力传输的影响，利兹大学的中间层钠和其他次要成分的化学模型将被修改，包括垂直动力传输估计钠风/温度激光雷达测量。这些修改后的模型的模拟，然后将进行比较，在新墨西哥州的星火光学范围（SOR，钠，温度和通量观测）和毛伊岛空间监视系统，在夏威夷（MSSS，钠，温度和通量观测）在整个一年中进行的广泛的钠激光雷达测量。 这项工作将与约翰M. C.普莱恩和他在利兹大学的研究小组。其目的是获得定量估计的垂直动力通量的各种成分，并比较它们的垂直分布和化学的这些成分的影响。本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，改进利兹大学的中间层组分化学模式，使之包括GW输送的重要影响; 3）通过模式预报与观测的比较，定量分析GW通量对中间层Na层结构季节变化的相对影响：4）通过调整Na模式，重现SOR和MSSS激光雷达观测资料，估算80 ~ 105 km之间涡动扩散系数廓线的季节变化; 5）评估GW输送对中间层其它重要组分（如奇数O和奇数H）结构的影响。 该项目包括一名博士后研究员和一名研究生的参与，他们将获得中层大气动力学和化学、遥感工程技术和信号处理方面的研究经验。

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.