小尺度大气波动(ripples) (水平波长<10 km)是发生在中层顶区域一种常见的结构，它是大气不稳定的一种重要标志。对流不稳定和动力不稳定是发生在该区域主要的不稳定过程，是重力波破碎和耗散的重要机理。全天空气辉成像仪为我们研究这种小尺度波动的产生和演化过程提供了一种独特的视角。本项目主要利用子午工程河北兴隆(40.4ºN, 117.6ºE)台站和海南富克(19.5ºN, 109.1ºE)台站OH气辉图像数据、流星雷达观测的风场数据以及TIMED/SABER观测的温度数据，并且借助于数值模拟的方法来研究中层顶区域小尺度大气波动特性和机制。尤其要研究小尺度大气波动发生的频率、季节变化、地方时分布特性；将重点研究小尺度大气波动对大气温度、风场以及成分产生的影响，结合数值模拟将深入研究小尺度大气波动的产生、演化和消亡过程。

Small-scale atmospheric waves (ripples) (horizontal wavelengths <10km) generated in the mesopause region have often been seen in the OH airglow images. This structure is an important sign of atmospheric instability. Convective instabilities and dynamical instabilities are the main form of instabilities that occur in the mesopause region and provide an important mechanism to explain gravity wave breaking and dissipation. All-sky airglow imager offers a unique perspective to study the generation and evolution of the small-scale atmospheric waves. The OH airglow images data for this project are mainly from Meridian Project-Xinglong and Hainan station. The wind data are from meteor radar and the temperature data are from TIMED/SABER measurements. Numerical simulation method is used to study the instability characteristic of the small-scale atmospheric waves. In particular, we will study the occurrence frequency, seasonal variations, local time and latitudinal distribution of the small-scale atmospheric waves and how they affect the atmospheric temperature, wind and components. With numerical simulation, we will make an intensive investigation of the generation, evolution and extinction processes of the small-scale atmospheric waves.