Collaborative Research: A Consortium of Resonance and Rayleigh Lidars

这是一个合作奖，通过开发和操作先进的高层大气激光雷达仪器来推进中间层和低层热层（MLT）科学。共振和瑞利激光雷达联盟（CRRL）包括六所大学：科罗拉多大学（CU）主持CRRL主任和独特的CRRL技术中心（CTC）；伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校与安柏瑞德大学合作，在智利塞罗Pachón运营安第斯激光雷达天文台（ALO）；西北研究协会/CoRA司为挪威中大气研究北极激光雷达观测站（ALOMAR）的运作作出贡献；美国犹他州立大学（USU）与科罗拉多州立大学（CSU）合作，在犹他州运行钠激光雷达。全球中高层大气观测站数量的增加，以及最近数值模式数据同化方案的增加，表明科学界越来越倾向于将中高层大气作为一个全球系统来研究，需要在广泛的时空尺度上进行研究。Na共振风温（Na W/T）激光雷达技术是CRRL的核心技术，它提供了其他方法难以实现的时空分辨率的MLT区域基本测量。因此，纳米W/T激光雷达在我们对MLT动力学、热结构、化学和微物理的理解方面取得了根本性的进展，这在以前是不可能的。因此，它们是实现整个大气建模和系统科学研究的社区目标的关键工具。这项工作将巩固和推进中、高层大气激光雷达系统，导致1)改善目前在低纬度、中纬度和高纬度的三种Na激光雷达的协调、性能和科学生产力；2)在激光雷达技术的开发、实施和转让方面取得更快、更有效的进展；3)积极的教育和培训，客座研究员；外展计划，以教育未来的研究人员和扩大高层大气社区的激光雷达用户群，以及4)高层大气激光雷达社区的协调愿景和计划。扩展的测量能力和社区参与预期在RRL，特别是Na激光雷达测量昼夜温度和风的能力，以及激光雷达支持和增强关键站点相关仪器的能力，将确保这些系统的最大科学效益和最广泛的应用。最后，CTC技术发展将努力确保最有效和全面地利用先进技术，使CRRL内外的激光雷达研究受益。CRRL活动将产生广泛的影响：(1)加强中高层大气研究的基础设施；(2)定义教育、管理和协调相关研究活动的新手段。最大的研究效益将通过综合和协调的研究产生，这些研究将合并多个数据集和不同的科学兴趣，从而使研究投资获得最大的科学回报。CTC技术的发展也将受益于当前航空业以外的技术发展。预期的CRRL教育、培训和客座研究者计划将确保一群有才华和热情的用户在未来追求激光雷达的发展和应用。

This is a collaborative award to advance mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) science by developing and operating advanced upper atmospheric lidar instruments. The Consortium of Resonance and Rayleigh Lidars (CRRL) includes six universities: the University of Colorado (CU) hosts the CRRL director and the unique CRRL Technology Center (CTC); the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in collaboration with Embry-Riddle University operates the Andes Lidar Observatory (ALO) in Cerro Pachón, Chile; Northwest Research Associates/CoRA Division contributes to the operation of the Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research (ALOMAR) in Norway; and Utah State University (USU) in collaboration with Colorado State University (CSU) operates a sodium lidar in Utah. The increasing number of middle and upper atmosphere observing stations around the globe, and the recent increase in data assimilation schemes for numerical models, indicates the growing movement in the community to address the middle and upper atmosphere as a global system requiring studies spanning a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The Na resonance wind and temperature (Na W/T) lidar technique, central to CRRL, provides fundamental measurements of the MLT region at temporal and spatial resolutions that are difficult to achieve by other means. As a result, Na W/T lidars have yielded fundamental advances in our understanding of MLT dynamics, thermal structure, chemistry, and microphysics that were previously impossible. They are, therefore, key instruments for achieving the community goals of whole atmosphere modeling and system science studies. The effort will consolidate and advance middle and upper atmosphere lidar systems leading to 1) improved coordination, performance, and scientific productivity of the three Na lidars currently at low, middle, and high latitudes, 2) more rapid and more efficient advances in lidar technology developments, implementations, and transfers, 3) active education and training, guest investigator, and outreach programs to educate future researchers and broaden the lidar user base in the upper atmosphere community, and 4) a coordinated vision and plan for the upper atmosphere lidar community. The expanded measurement capabilities and community involvement anticipated within RRL, especially the ability of the Na lidars to measure both temperature and winds day and night, and the ability of the lidars to support and enhance correlative instrumentation at key sites, will ensure the maximum scientific benefit and the broadest possible applications of these systems. Finally, CTC technology developments will strive to ensure the most efficient and comprehensive utilization of advancing technologies to the benefit of lidar research within and outside of CRRL. The CRRL activities will have a broad impact 1) by enhancing the infrastructure for middle and upper atmosphere research and 2) by defining a new means of educating, managing and coordinating correlative research activities. The greatest research benefits will occur through comprehensive and coordinated studies that merge multiple data sets and diverse scientific interests which will enable the greatest scientific return on the research investment. CTC technology developments will also benefit from, and be of benefit to, technology developments currently outside the Aeronomy community. The anticipated CRRL education, training, and guest investigator programs will ensure a group of talented and enthusiastic users to pursue lidar developments and applications in the future.