Precise measurement of neutral wind in daytime thermosphere by rocket-released Lithium vapor

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To study the thermosphere is important for understanding global atmosphere (e.g. global warming), however, observation of thermosphere is difficult. Less than 1% of the rarefied atmosphere is ionized by solar ultra-violet, thus it can be observed by radars, whereas, more than 99% of the neutral atmosphere is too difficult to observe, preventing from our understanding. Due to optical tracking of artificially illuminating clouds by rocket-released TMA (Try-Methyl-Aluminum), it has been established neutral wind measurement in nighttime thermosphere below about 160 km, however, the measurement in daytime has never been established before. We use rocket-released Lithium and its resonance-scattering by sunlight in order to establish the neutral wind measurement in daytime. In July 2013, Japan-U.S. collaborating rocket experiment was carried out and the rocket-released Lithium was successfully observed for 20 minutes, resulting on establishment of the difficult measurement.