Millimeter Spectroscopic Studies of the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere

本文提出了一种微波光谱观测中间层和低层热层的地基方案。分子种类O3、CO、HDO（氘水）和HO2将在中间层（50-90公里）内测量；而NO将在低层热层（90-120公里）内测量。此外，中间层风速（超过60-85公里）将通过测量CO和O3线的多普勒频移来确定。利用这些观测资料将研究中间层/低层热层的各种过程。这包括太阳周期、季节和日变化的低热层NO峰值密度；中间层HO2、O3、HDO和风的季节和日变化；中间层CO的季节变化；中间层Ox和HOx化学的光化学平衡；和中间层水蒸气的D/H比。每年将在基特峰NRAO设施（北纬30度）进行大约三次为期四天的观测。每年计划在莫纳克亚CSO设施（北纬22度）增加一次观测会议。这些不同地点的观测将相互协调，以研究纬向变化，并可能在极光活动高峰期间获得NO观测值。

This proposal presents a ground-based program of microwave spectroscopic observations of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The molecular species O3, CO, HDO (deuterated water), and HO2 will be measured within the mesosphere (50-90 km); and NO will be measured within the lower thermosphere (90-120 km). In addition, mesospheric wind velocities (over 60-85 km) will be determined through measurement of doppler shifts in the CO and O3 lines. A wide variety of processes in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere will be studied with these observations. These include solar cycle, seasonal, and diurnal variations in lower thermospheric NO peak densities; seasonal and diurnal variations in mesospheric HO2, O3, HDO, and winds; the seasonal variation in mesospheric CO; the photochemical balance of Ox and HOx chemistry in the mesosphere; and the D/H ratio within mesospheric water vapor. Roughly three four- day periods of observing will be conducted each year at the Kitt Peak NRAO facility (30N latitude). One additional observing session per year is planned at the Mauna Kea CSO facility (22oN latitude). Observations at these various sites will be coordinated to study latitudinal variations, and possibly to obtain NO observations during periods of high auroral activity.