Southern Hemisphere Mid-Latitude Neutral Mesospheric and Thermospheric Dynamics and Thermodynamics

高层大气区域包括中间层和热层的动力学和热力学必须在全球范围内进行研究，因为水平输送、行星尺度的波动以及这些区域之间的耦合具有重要意义。对这些地区的大部分调查都在北半球进行，而南半球的调查则在南极洲以及澳大利亚和新西兰的中低纬度地区进行。这笔赠款将支持美国参与坎特伯雷大学约翰山天文台的光学高分辨率光谱仪的运营。PI将扩展对南半球中间层和低热层(MLT)运动和温度同时动力学的光学研究。S将重新研究这些运动的气候学以及那些高度的动力温度。

Dynamics and thermodynamics of the upper atmospheric regions including mesosphere and thermosphere must be studied on a global scale because of the central importance of horizontal transport, planetary-scale waves, and coupling of these regions. Most investigations of these regions have been in the northern hemisphere, while those in the southern hemisphere have been made in Antarctica and at low midlatitudes in Australia and New Zealand. This grant will support U.S. involvement in operating an optical high-resolution spectrometer at the University of Canterbury's Mount John Astronomical Observatory. The PI will expand upon optical investigations of the simultaneous dynamics of the southern hemisphere mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT)'s motions and temperature. He will re-investigate the climatology of these motions, along with kinetic temperature at those heights.