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

该项目包括全面的观测研究，在最先进的模型指导下，量化重力波（GW）动量输运和驱动能量和动量沉积的不稳定动力学，以及在中间层和低层热层（MLT）区域的GW光谱演变。观测将建立在该团队最近成功的基础上，该团队使用了先进的中间层温度成像仪（AMTM），韦伯风和温度钠激光雷达，以及在挪威北部（69.3oN）的北极大气研究激光雷达观测站（ALOMAR）运行的其他相关仪器。这些早期的相关测量能力已经证明了极好的潜力，可以量化吉瓦动量通量，以及吉瓦特性，这些特性可以解释这些通量，在一定程度上是传统气辉成像仪或风廓线雷达或激光雷达无法做到的。因此，该项目代表了社区测量、探索和理解MLT中直接影响空间-大气相互作用区（SAIR）的小规模GW和不稳定动力学的新前沿，这对NSF航空和CEDAR项目至关重要。这些研究将继续利用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（41.9oN）提供的广泛的夏季激光雷达和AMTM测量能力。这两个数据集将提供对高纬度和中纬度MLT地区不同地球物理强迫效应的极好测量。考虑到激光雷达操作员的现场访问，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也将有助于估计GW包的空间和时间尺度，考虑到平均强迫和次生GW的产生，这些目前在很大程度上是未知的，但对于理解和参数化GW在天气、气候和大气环流模式中的影响是必要的，以满足研究和社会需求。这两个站点的测量如果成功，将为实际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.