The investigators will establish a latitudinal chain of all-sky imaging systems to enable CEDAR-TIMED studies of small-scale gravity waves and their effects upon the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. CEDAR, which stands for Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions, is a global change program that combines theoretical modeling with ground-based measurements to study the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. TIMED, for Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics, is a NASA satellite program to study similar regions of the atmosphere. The joint CEDAR/TIMED program aims to coordinate ground-based and space-based observations to achieve better understanding of physical processes in the lower thermosphere and ionosphere. The three imagers that make up the chain will be located at the Bear Lake Observatory in northern Utah, the Starfire Optical Facility in New Mexico, and in Grand Junction, Colorado. The all-sky cameras will be deployed and operated in collaboration with investigators from Utah State University and University of California at Berkeley.
