Medium Frequency (MF) Radar Studies of the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere at Urbana, Illinois

这是一项利用自1991年3月以来一直在连续运行的厄巴纳中频雷达数据对中层和低热层进行的研究。 科学研究将侧重于调查厄巴纳中层和低热层风、潮汐和重力波的时空变化以及运动场这些组成部分之间的相互作用。 将通过比较中频雷达提供的重力波特征与厄巴纳附近平流层-对流层雷达提供的对流层波活动同步观测结果，研究与低层大气的耦合。 将在涉及北美MF雷达网络站的合作努力中研究潮汐分量短期变化的空间和时间一致性。 为了支持科学研究，将进行分析技术开发，以确定使用基于软件的干涉测量技术从中频雷达数据中提取动量通量估计的最佳技术，雷达散射模型的理论开发将与数值模拟相结合，以解决仍然存在的关于中频雷达后向散射的性质和地球物理解释的问题。 ***

This is a study of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere using data from the Urbana Medium Frequency radar which has been in continuous operation since March, 1991. Science studies will focus on investigation of spatial and temporal variability of winds, tides and gravity waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at Urbana and the mutual interactions between these components of the motion field. Coupling with the lower atmosphere will be studied by comparing the gravity wave characterization provided by the MF radar with simultaneous observations of tropospheric wave activity provided by a stratosphere-troposphere radar located near Urbana. The spatial and temporal coherence of short term variability in tidal components will be studied in a collaborative effort involving the MF radar network stations in North America. In support of the science studies, analysis technique development will be carried out to determine optimum techniques for extracting momentum flux estimates from the MF radar data using software-based interferometry techniques, and theoretical development of radar scattering models will be combined with numerical simulations to address questions that still exist regarding the nature and geophysical interpretation of MF radar backscatter. ***