CEDAR: New Opportunities for Mesospheric and Lower Thermospheric Research at Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (ALO)

CEDAR：大气激光雷达观测站 (ALO) 中层和低热层研究的新机遇

• 批准号: 0123145
• 负责人: Vincent Wickwar
• 金额: $ 23.4万
• 依托单位: Utah State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-01-01 至 2005-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0123145&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CEDAR; New; Opportunities; Mesospheric; Lower

The investigators will use observations from the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory at Utah State University to study the temperature structure of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. A recent upgrade to the lidar has increased the sensitivity of the system by a factor of 30. The first task is to continue and extend ongoing research that involves comparison of measured temperatures with those computed using a first-principles model. Resolution of discrepancies will reveal information about the role of gravity waves and chemistry in heating, and the effects of the large-scale circulation pattern. The second task is to relate processes occurring below 80 km altitude with processes at higher altitudes where measurements have not been possible before. The third task is to look for effects of stratospheric winds and waves in the lower thermosphere. Finally, the lidar will be used to look for further evidence of noctilucent cloud formation at mid-latitudes. Previously confined to high latitudes only, the appearance of a noctilucent cloud over Utah in June of 1999 may be an indication of cooler mesospheric temperatures caused by global climate change.

研究人员将利用犹他州立大学大气激光雷达天文台的观测结果来研究中间层和低层热层的温度结构。 最近对激光雷达的升级使系统的灵敏度提高了 30 倍。首要任务是继续并扩展正在进行的研究，其中包括将测量的温度与使用第一原理模型计算的温度进行比较。 解决差异将揭示有关重力波和化学在加热中的作用以及大规模环流模式的影响的信息。 第二个任务是将 80 公里海拔以下发生的过程与以前无法测量的更高海拔的过程联系起来。 第三项任务是寻找平流层风和波浪对低层热层的影响。 最后，激光雷达将用于寻找中纬度地区夜光云形成的进一步证据。 以前仅限于高纬度地区，1999 年 6 月犹他州上空出现的夜光云可能表明全球气候变化导致中层温度变冷。