Collaborative Research: Quantification of Gravity Wave Momentum Fluxes and Instability Events in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) Region at High- and Mid- Latitudes

该项目涉及在最先进的模拟指导下进行全面的观测研究，以量化重力波(GW)动量输送和驱动中间层和低热层(MLT)区域能量和动量沉积以及GW谱演变的不稳定动力学。这些观测将建立在该小组最近使用先进的中层温度测绘仪、韦伯风和温度钠激光雷达以及在挪威北部(北纬69.3oN)的北极激光雷达中大气研究观测站操作的其他相关仪器的基础上所取得的成果。这些早期的相关测量能力显示出了量化GW动量通量以及解释这些通量的GW特征的极好潜力，这是传统的气辉成像仪或风廓线雷达或激光雷达无法达到的程度。因此，该计划代表着社区在测量、探索和了解MLT中的小尺度GW和不稳定动力学方面的新前沿，这些动力学直接影响对NSF Aeronomy和Cedar计划至关重要的空间-大气相互作用区(SAIR)。这些研究将继续使用Alomar的高质量相关冬季测量能力，并将包括最近在熊湖天文台(BLO)和附近的犹他州立大学(USU)校园(北纬41.9度)提供的广泛的夏季Na激光雷达和AMTM测量能力。这两组数据结合在一起，将极好地衡量对中高纬度MLT区域的不同地球物理强迫效应。考虑到可以现场接触激光雷达操作员，这些设施为多个相关数据集提供了最大的潜力。这些经过验证的测量能力还将有助于估计GW信息包的空间和时间尺度，考虑到平均强迫和次级GW的产生，这在目前基本上是未知的，但对于理解和参数化GW在天气、气候和满足研究和社会需求的大气环流模式中的影响是必要的。这两个站的测量如果成功，将为现实的模型开发提供必要的输入。

This project involves comprehensive observational studies, guided by state-of-the-art modeling, to quantify gravity wave (GW) momentum transport and the instability dynamics that drive energy and momentum deposition and GW spectral evolution in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region. The observations will build on recent successes by this team employing an Advanced Mesosphere Temperature Mapper (AMTM), the Weber Wind and Temperature sodium lidar, and other correlative instrumentation operated at the Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research (ALOMAR) in northern Norway (69.3oN). These earlier correlative measurement capabilities have demonstrated an excellent potential to quantify GW momentum fluxes, and the GW characteristics that account for these fluxes, to a degree not possible with traditional airglow imagers or wind profiling radars or lidars. As such, this program represents a new frontier in the community's ability to measure, explore and understand small-scale GW and instability dynamics in the MLT that directly impact the Space-Atmospheric Interaction Region (SAIR) of prime importance to the NSF Aeronomy and CEDAR programs. These studies will continue to employ the high-quality correlative wintertime measurement capabilities at ALOMAR and will include extensive summertime Na lidar and AMTM measurement capability recently available at Bear Lake Observatory (BLO) and the nearby Utah State University (USU) campus (41.9oN). Together these two data sets will provide an excellent measure of the different geophysical forcing effects on the high- and mid-latitude MLT region. These facilities provide the best potential for multiple correlative data sets, given the on-site access to lidar operators. These proven measurement capabilities will also facilitate estimates of the spatial and temporal scales of the GW packets, accounting for mean forcing and the generation of secondary GWs, which are largely unknown at present, but are needed for understanding and parameterizing GW effects in weather, climate, and general circulation models addressing both research and societal needs. The measurements from these two stations, if successful, will provide the necessary inputs for a realistic model development.