Collaborative Research: CEDAR: Mid-latitude Studies of the Middle Atmosphere Using Rayleigh Scatter Lidar

马里兰大学开发的激光雷达系统正在犹他州立大学恢复运行，作为熊湖天文台（BLO）设施的一部分——一个中纬度雪松天文台。激光雷达观测最初将在30-70公里的高度范围内进行，就像之前在College Park所做的那样，覆盖平流层上层和中间层下层。克莱姆森大学将增加一个更强大的激光器，将高度覆盖范围扩大到80公里。在中层顶附近的高海拔地区，这些激光雷达观测将由BLO的被动光学仪器补充。分子密度和温度的垂直剖面将利用532纳米的瑞利散射，从30公里以上的大气晴空部分得到。这些剖面向下延伸到粒子散射显著增加的区域，激光雷达回波将利用大气分子的拉曼散射。这些剖面将被用来研究行星波、潮汐和重力波在一个扩展山区上空中层大气中的发生、结构、相互作用和变异性。该合同为PI提供资金，以帮助使系统在BLO上运行，并开始测量。

A lidar system developed at the University of Maryland is being restored to operation at Utah State University, as part of the Bear Lake Observatory (BLO) facilities - a mid-latitude CEDAR observatory. Lidar observations will be made initially in the altitude range 30-70 km, as done previously at College Park, covering the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere. The altitude coverage will be extended with the addition of a more powerful laser by Clemson University upward to 80 km. At higher altitudes, near the mesopause, these lidar observations will be complemented by the passive optical instruments at BLO. Vertical profiles of molecular density and temperature will be derived from clear-air portions of the atmosphere above 30 km, using Rayleigh scattering at 532 nm. The downward extension of these profiles into regions were Mie (particulate) scattering significantly adds to the lidar return will employ Raman scattering from atmospheric molecules. These profiles will be used to examine the occurrence, structure, interaction, and variability of planetary waves, tides, and gravity waves in the middle atmosphere above an extended mountainous region. This award provides funds for the PI to help make the system operational at BLO, and begin measurements.