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.The proposed research program has several significant benefits for Canadians. A better understanding of coupling between the lower, middle and upper atmosphere is a key element to improving weather and climate models, as processes that occur in one region of the atmosphere can have a significant effect on other regions separated from the first by height, latitude, longitude and time. The proposed measurements will improve our understanding of the transport of pollutants in the atmosphere. It is now well established that pollution created in one region of the world can be lifted into the stratosphere, where it can both affect ozone and be transported great distances before being mixed back down to the surface. Knowledge gained from these studies will be used to address the quality of weather forecasts, health concerns due to air quality, declining levels of stratospheric ozone, GPS navigation in the North and predicting future climate change.