CEDAR: Lidar and Radar Investigations of Turbulence in the Arctic Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere

CEDAR：北极中层和低热层湍流的激光雷达和雷达研究

• 批准号: 1243167
• 负责人: Richard Collins
• 金额: $ 34.85万
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-05-15 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1243167&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CEDAR; Lidar; Radar; Investigations; Turbulence

The investigators will study wave-breaking, instability, and turbulence in the Arctic middle atmosphere. Specifically, an integrated study that combines lidar, radar, and satellite measurements will be conducted to characterize turbulence in the presence of persistent mesospheric inversion layers. The study will draw on established instruments at Chatanika, Alaska (65°N, 147°W); namely an established Rayleigh lidar and the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar. The lidar will yield high-resolution temperature and density measurements that allow characterization of the mesospheric inversion layers and wave activity in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). The radar will provide spectral measurements of turbulence. These observations will provide a framework for characterizing turbulence in the presence of persistent instabilities in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The wintertime Arctic middle atmosphere provides a unique natural laboratory for observing large-scale wave breaking and persistent instabilities in the middle atmosphere. In the winter planetary waves, generated in the troposphere, routinely break in the stratosphere and mesosphere and disrupt the circulation. Studies to date indicate that the western Arctic may be a center of action for planetary wave breaking and formation of persistent mesospheric inversion layers due to the presence of the Aleutian anticyclone and the interactions between the anticyclone and the Arctic vortex during periods of enhanced planetary wave activity. The study's focus is on observations of waves and turbulence at the lower border of the Space Atmosphere Interaction Region (SAIR). This SAIR-based study addresses the coupling that is critical to a systems-based understanding of the atmosphere, represents a transition in geospace, and determines the current structure and composition of geospace and how it evolves. The research will fuse knowledge from remote sensing and geophysical fluid analysis, and directly support understanding in natural sciences. It will support education and training of students in science and engineering, employ and extend research infrastructure in the Arctic, enhance international collaborations, and promote collaboration amongst universities and laboratories in the US and Japan. The research results will be integrated into the University of Alaska programs and disseminated through a variety of professional, educational, and outreach programs.

研究人员将研究北极中层大气中的波浪破碎、不稳定和湍流。具体而言，将进行一项综合研究，将激光雷达、雷达和卫星测量结合起来，以确定存在持续中层逆温层时湍流的特征。这项研究将利用阿拉斯加Chatanika（65°N，147°W）的现有仪器，即现有的瑞利激光雷达和扑克牌平板非相干散射雷达。激光雷达将产生高分辨率的温度和密度测量结果，从而能够确定中间层逆温层的特征以及中间层和低热层的波动活动。雷达将提供湍流的光谱测量。这些观测结果将提供一个框架，在上层中间层和下层热层存在持续不稳定性的情况下描述湍流的特征。冬季北极中层大气为观测中层大气大尺度波浪破碎和持续不稳定性提供了独特的天然实验室。在冬季，在对流层产生的行星波通常会在平流层和中间层破裂，扰乱环流。迄今为止的研究表明，由于阿留申反气旋的存在以及行星波活动增强期间反气旋与北极涡旋之间的相互作用，北极西部可能是行星波破碎和形成持续中层逆温层的作用中心。该研究的重点是观测空间大气相互作用区（SAIR）下边界的波动和湍流。这项基于SAIR的研究解决了对基于系统的大气层理解至关重要的耦合问题，代表了地球空间的过渡，并确定了地球空间的当前结构和组成及其演变方式。该研究将融合遥感和地球物理流体分析的知识，并直接支持对自然科学的理解。 它将支持科学和工程学生的教育和培训，在北极使用和扩展研究基础设施，加强国际合作，并促进美国和日本的大学和实验室之间的合作。研究成果将被纳入阿拉斯加大学的计划，并通过各种专业，教育和推广计划传播。