Instrument Cluster Studies of the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere at Arecibo

阿雷西博中层和低热层大气的仪器群研究该奖项支持一项关于中层和低热层大气的持续综合研究的三年计划。该计划建立在大气动力学行动的技术和成果的基础上，将利用阿雷西博天文台的雷达和光学设施，以及宾夕法尼亚州立大学和/或伊利诺伊大学的钠和铁激光雷达。特别令人感兴趣的是在80-110公里高度范围内导致离子、中性钠和中性铁层形成的明显相关的动力和化学过程。其他的兴趣集中在6小时潮汐的起源，这种潮汐与零星的中间电离层的关系，偶尔出现的低至82公里高度的不明原因的离子层，以及在钠层中观察到的对流过程。这项研究计划将在拟议的1994年AIDA-LAMS(层和微结构)活动中达到高潮，该活动将利用几个雷达和激光雷达以及其他仪器来研究这些现象和其他现象。几名研究生和本科生将参与这项研究工作，这项工作还包括在天文台进行研究实习。

Instrument Cluster Studies of the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphedr at Arecibo This award supports a three year program of continued comprehensive studies of mesosphere and lower thermosphere aeronomy. This program builds on the techniques and results of the 1989 AIDA (Arecibo Initiative in Dynamics of the Atmosphere) campaign and will utilize the radar and optical facilities of Arecibo Observatory as well as sodium and iron lidars from Penn State and/or the University of Illinois. Of particular interest are the apparently linked dynamical and chemical processes leading to the formation of ion, neutral sodium, and neutral iron layers in the 80-110 km height range. Additional interest centers on the origin of the 6-hour tide, the relationship of this tide with sporadic intermediate ionization layers, on the occasional unexplained occurrence of ion layers as low as 82 km altitude, and on convective processes as observed in the sodium layer. This research program will culminate in the proposed 1994 AIDA-LAMS (LAyers and MicroStructure) campaign which will utilize several radars and lidars as well as other instruments to investigate these and other phenomena. Several graduate and undergraduate students will be part of this research effort which also involves research residencies at the Observatory.