Collaborative Research: Radar and Optical Observations of Dynamics in the Tropical Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere

使用50 MHz Jicamara高空间分辨率测量、秘鲁后向散射雷达、高光谱分辨率OH气辉测量和秘鲁两个地点的全天成像诊断，研究了中间层中的湍流层。Jicamara雷达的150米分辨率直到最近才通过该雷达的硬件和数据升级成为可能。这项研究的目的是确定湍流层的生成机制及其作为季节函数的相对有效性。与中间层环流模式本身一样，预计湍流层的触发机制也受到半年、年度和准两年一次的振荡的调制。在八个不同的观察期内获得的数据在D区等离子体和中性结构的数值模型的背景下进行了解释，这些模型现在可以通过NCAR协作获得。

Turbulent layers in the mesosphere are studied using high spatial resolution measurements with the 50 MHz Jicamarca, Peru backscatter radar, high spectral resolution OH airglow measurements, and all-sky imaging diagnostics at two sites in Peru. 150 m resolution with the Jicamarca radar has only recently become possible through hardware and data taking upgrades at that radar. The objective of the research is to identify turbulent layer generation mechanisms and their relative effectiveness as a function of season. Like the mesospheric circulation pattern itself, it is expected that the turbulent layer triggering mechanisms are also modulated by the semiannual, annual, and quasi-biennial oscillations. Data acquired during eight distinct observations periods are interpreted within the context of numerical models of D-region plasma and neutral structures now available through NCAR collaboration.