Improved Understanding of Thermosphere-Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere Coupling Using Lidar Measurements

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Solar-terrestrial relations is the study of how solar light and particle energy enters and is distributed through Earth's atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere system. The ionosphere is the electrically charged region of the upper atmosphere (80 to 500 km above Earth's surface) while the magnetosphere is the extended region of space around Earth resulting from the Sun's magnetic field interacting with Earth's magnetic field. The atmospheric component traditionally emphasizes the interaction of solar energy with the lower atmosphere. Over the last 20 years it has been realized that the coupling of the lower atmosphere with the upper atmosphere and ionosphere is critical to understanding the system. Thus, simultaneous measurements over a wide range of heights are necessary to provide the inputs needed to understand processes which affect weather and climate, both near the surface and 100s of km above the surface.