First simultaneous Na Doppler and Fe Boltzmann lidar observations of the upper atmosphere-space at Arrival Heights near McMurdo, Antarctica
Abstract
After full seven years of observations with an Fe Boltzmann lidar in Antarctica, a new Na Doppler lidar, named STAR (Student Training and Atmospheric Research), was successfully installed into the same lab as the Fe lidar at Arrival Heights Lidar Observatory (77.84°S, 166.67°E) by the University of Colorado Boulder lidar group in the 8th season (2017-2018). Simultaneous Na Doppler and Fe Boltzmann lidar observations started in January 2018 and will continue through the Antarctic summer and winter. These two sophisticated resonance-fluorescence lidars provide unique opportunities to study the complex physical, chemical, neutral dynamical and electrodynamics processes in the Earth's atmosphere and space environment. In particular, we will explore the recently discovered thermosphere Fe and Na layers to the E-F region, explore the neutral temperature and vertical winds in the mesosphere and thermosphere, investigate high-frequency waves in addition to the persistent gravity waves, and measure the wave-induced heat, Na and Fe fluxes in the mesopause region. Initial 48-hour continuous observations with the Na and Fe lidars in February 2018 have revealed interesting phenomena in the Fe and Na layers as well as polar mesospheric clouds, which deserve further studies. Nearly 8000 hours of Fe lidar data have been collected in the last seven years covering all 12 months of a year. Many new science discoveries have been resulted from the data. In this paper we will report the first simultaneous Na and Fe lidar observations in the Antarctic season 2018 and also highlight several discoveries emerged from the first seven years of Fe lidar campaign.
- Publication:
-
42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018cosp...42E.651C