This project will continue an analysis of the atmospheric dynamics in the antarctic upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT at altitudes of 70 to 100 km) from a number of existing data sources, and continue the active cooperation with the British Antarctic Survey in operating an MLT radar installed at Rothera as part of a prior award.
The Rothera MLT radar produces high resolution measurements of the horizontal wind field that can define clearly the tidal, planetary wave, and gravity wave activity at the top of the neutral atmosphere. These data will be used to (1) investigate the large-scale wave dynamics in conjunction with similar data sets from McMurdo, Davis and Syowa stations; (2) investigate the regional structure of mesopause by combining Rothera MLT data with satellite data and the results of a rocketsonde program at the German antarctic station; and (3) investigate inter-hemispheric and global connections through correlative studies with northern hemisphere data sets.
