Observations of the cold mid-latitude mesopause using airglow-derived temperatures and SABER data

Aerospace imagers deployed at Alice Springs (23o42'S, 133o53'E) and Adelaide (34o55'S, 138o36'E) have been operating nearly continuously since 2001. The imagers employ filters measuring OH Meinel (6, 2) and O2 Atmospheric (0, 1) band emission intensities and temperatures, as well as atmospheric gravity wave parameters. Airglow imaging provides a unique means by which to study many wave-related phenomena in the 80 to 100 km altitude regime. Observations reveal quasi-monochromatic disturbances associated with atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) as well as small-scale instabilities (e.g., ripples). The airglow imager located at Adelaide captured the unusual occurrence of a reflected gravity wave on the night of Aug 1, 2008. Subsequent examination of SABER temperature profiles over the site show extremely cold mesopause temperatures, near 120K, over the observation site near this time. Although such temperatures are common in summertime at high latitudes, their occurrence at midlatitudes is believed to be relatively uncommon. We explore the conditions responsible for the bright, reflecting wave feature observed in the airglow images. We also explore the frequency of cold temperatures observed by the SABER instrument and compare to the observations of cold temperatures found in airglow images.