Variation of the meteor count rate and echo height during solar cycle 23 and 24

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (S340) ◽  
pp. 73-74
Author(s):  
B. Premkumar ◽  
K. Chenna Reddy ◽  
G. Yellaiah
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Count Rate ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Neutral Atmosphere ◽  
Meteor Radar ◽  
Solar Cycle 23 ◽  
Cycle 24 ◽  
Good Agreement

AbstractThe meteoroid ablation is an important source of upper atmosphere metal atoms. Many meteoroids ablate between 70 - 110 km and form an ionized plasma trail which is detected by radar technique. It is also known that the ablation heights of the meteors depend on various factors such as velocity, mass, and its composition, etc. The meteor ablation height provides new opportunities to gather information on the neutral atmosphere in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) region. In this study, we analysed the 11 years of meteor radar data (2005 - 2015), i.e., descending phase of solar cycle 23, and ascending phase of solar cycle 24, detected by all sky meteor radar at Thumba. We found that the solar activity influences the meteor ablation height, here, during the solar maxima meteor peak detection height rise to few hundred meters higher altitudes. We also examined the long term pattern of the meteor count rate which shows a decreasing trend and has good agreement with the sunspot number (SSN).

scholarly journals The wintertime two-day wave in the polar stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 749-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Sandford ◽  
M. J. Schwartz ◽  
N. J. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Meteor Radar ◽  
Polar Night ◽  
Zonal Wavenumber ◽  
Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Polar Stratosphere ◽  
Striking Contrast

Abstract. Recent observations of the polar mesosphere have revealed that waves with periods near two days reach significant amplitudes in both summer and winter. This is in striking contrast to mid-latitude observations where two-day waves maximise in summer only. Here, we use data from a meteor radar at Esrange (68° N, 21° E) in the Arctic and data from the MLS instrument aboard the EOS Aura satellite to investigate the wintertime polar two-day wave in the stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The radar data reveal that mesospheric two-day wave activity measured by horizontal-wind variance has a semi-annual cycle with maxima in winter and summer and equinoctial minima. The MLS data reveal that the summertime wave in the mesosphere is dominated by a westward-travelling zonal wavenumber three wave with significant westward wavenumber four present. It reaches largest amplitudes at mid-latitudes in the southern hemisphere. In the winter polar mesosphere, however, the wave appears to be an eastward-travelling zonal wavenumber two, which is not seen during the summer. At the latitude of Esrange, the eastward-two wave reaches maximum amplitudes near the stratopause and appears related to similar waves previously observed in the polar stratosphere. We conclude that the wintertime polar two-day wave is the mesospheric manifestation of an eastward-propagating, zonal-wavenumber-two wave originating in the stratosphere, maximising at the stratopause and likely to be generated by instabilities in the polar night jet.

scholarly journals Interhemispheric differences of mesosphere/lower thermosphere winds and tides investigated from three whole atmosphere models and meteor radar observations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunter Stober ◽  
Ales Kuchar ◽  
Dimitry Pokhotelov ◽  
Huixin Liu ◽  
Han-Li Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Meteor Radar ◽  
Radar Observations ◽  
Seasonal Characteristics

Abstract. Long-term and continuous observations of mesospheric/lower thermospheric winds are rare, but they are important to investigate climatological changes at these altitudes on time scales of several years, covering a solar cycle and longer. Such long time series are a natural heritage of the mesosphere/lower thermosphere climate, and they are valuable to compare climate models or long term runs of general circulation models (GCMs). Here we present a climatological comparison of wind observations from six meteor radars at two conjugate latitudes to validate the corresponding mean winds and atmospheric diurnal and semidiurnal tides from three GCMs, namely Ground-to-Topside Model of Atmosphere and Ionosphere for Aeronomy (GAIA), Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model Extension (Specified Dynamics) (WACCM-X(SD)) and Upper Atmosphere ICOsahedral Non-hydrostatic (UA-ICON) model. Our results indicate that there are interhemispheric differences in the seasonal characteristics of the diurnal and semidiurnal tide. There also are some differences in the mean wind climatologies of the models and the observations. Our results indicate that GAIA shows a reasonable agreement with the meteor radar observations during the winter season, whereas WACCM-X(SD) shows a better agreement with the radars for the hemispheric zonal summer wind reversal, which is more consistent with the meteor radar observations. The free running UA-ICON tends to show similar winds and tides compared to WACCM-X(SD).

scholarly journals SOLAR-v: A new solar spectral irradiance dataset based on SOLAR/SOLSPEC observations during solar cycle 24

2020 ◽  
Vol 645 ◽  
pp. A2
Author(s):  
M. Meftah ◽  
M. Snow ◽  
L. Damé ◽  
D. Bolseé ◽  
N. Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Spectral Irradiance ◽  
Earth’S Atmosphere ◽  
Solar Spectral Irradiance ◽  
Uv Irradiance ◽  
Solar Cycle 24 ◽  
Solar Uv ◽  
Solar Uv Irradiance ◽  
Cycle 24

Context. Solar spectral irradiance (SSI) is the wavelength-dependent energy input to the top of the Earth’s atmosphere. Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiance represents the primary forcing mechanism for the photochemistry, heating, and dynamics of the Earth’s atmosphere. Hence, both temporal and spectral variations in solar UV irradiance represent crucial inputs to the modeling and understanding of the behavior of the Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, measuring the long-term solar UV irradiance variations over the 11-year solar activity cycle (and over longer timescales) is fundamental. Thus, each new solar spectral irradiance dataset based on long-term observations represents a major interest and can be used for further investigations of the long-term trend of solar activity and the construction of a homogeneous solar spectral irradiance record. Aims. The main objective of this article is to present a new solar spectral irradiance database (SOLAR-v) with the associated uncertainties. This dataset is based on solar UV irradiance observations (165−300 nm) of the SOLAR/SOLSPEC space-based instrument, which provides measurements of the full-disk SSI during solar cycle 24. Methods. SOLAR/SOLSPEC made solar acquisitions between April 5, 2008 and February 10, 2017. During this period, the instrument was affected by the harsh space environment that introduces instrumental trends (degradation) in the SSI measurements. A new method based on an adaptation of the Multiple Same-Irradiance-Level (MuSIL) technique was used to separate solar variability and any uncorrected instrumental trends in the SOLAR/SOLSPEC UV irradiance measurements. Results. A new method for correcting degradation has been applied to the SOLAR/SOLSPEC UV irradiance records to provide new solar cycle variability results during solar cycle 24. Irradiances are reported at a mean solar distance of 1 astronomical unit (AU). In the 165−242 nm spectral region, the SOLAR/SOLSPEC data agrees with the observations (SORCE/SOLSTICE) and models (SATIRE-S, NRLSSI 2) to within the 1-sigma error envelope. Between 242 and 300 nm, SOLAR/SOLSPEC agrees only with the models.

Solar cycle dependence and long-term trends in the wind field of the mesosphere/lower thermosphere

1997 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bremer ◽  
R. Schminder ◽  
K.M. Greisiger ◽  
P. Hoffmann ◽  
D. Kürschner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Wind Field ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Cycle Dependence

PERSIANN-CDR: Daily Precipitation Climate Data Record from Multisatellite Observations for Hydrological and Climate Studies

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Ashouri ◽  
Kuo-Lin Hsu ◽  
Soroosh Sorooshian ◽  
Dan K. Braithwaite ◽  
Kenneth R. Knapp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Precipitation ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Data Record ◽  
Global Precipitation ◽  
Climate Data Record ◽  
Climate Studies ◽  
Rainfall Estimates ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract A new retrospective satellite-based precipitation dataset is constructed as a climate data record for hydrological and climate studies. Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks–Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR) provides daily and 0.25° rainfall estimates for the latitude band 60°S–60°N for the period of 1 January 1983 to 31 December 2012 (delayed present). PERSIANN-CDR is aimed at addressing the need for a consistent, long-term, high-resolution, and global precipitation dataset for studying the changes and trends in daily precipitation, especially extreme precipitation events, due to climate change and natural variability. PERSIANN-CDR is generated from the PERSIANN algorithm using GridSat-B1 infrared data. It is adjusted using the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) monthly product to maintain consistency of the two datasets at 2.5° monthly scale throughout the entire record. Three case studies for testing the efficacy of the dataset against available observations and satellite products are reported. The verification study over Hurricane Katrina (2005) shows that PERSIANN-CDR has good agreement with the stage IV radar data, noting that PERSIANN-CDR has more complete spatial coverage than the radar data. In addition, the comparison of PERSIANN-CDR against gauge observations during the 1986 Sydney flood in Australia reaffirms the capability of PERSIANN-CDR to provide reasonably accurate rainfall estimates. Moreover, the probability density function (PDF) of PERSIANN-CDR over the contiguous United States exhibits good agreement with the PDFs of the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) gridded gauge data and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) product. The results indicate high potential for using PERSIANN-CDR for long-term hydroclimate studies in regional and global scales.

Solar cycle modulation of nighttime ozone near the mesopause as observed by MLS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae N. Lee ◽  
Dong L. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
Ozone Maximum ◽  
Solar Cycle 24 ◽  
Cycle 24 ◽  
Single Oxygen

<p>Solar 11-year cycle variations of nighttime ozone near the secondary ozone maximum layer are analyzed with Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) observations since 2004 that covers complete solar cycle 24. Produced primarily from the recombination of molecular oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) with single oxygen (O) transported from the lower thermosphere, the mesospheric nighttime ozone concentration is proportional to single oxygen density [O], of which the latter is modulated by UV solar cycle variations. MLS nighttime ozone and Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) Solar-Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) measured UV show a positive correlation in-phase with the solar cycle. The nighttime ozone correlates strongly with temperature but not monotonously positive nor negative. The slope and sign of the correlation depend on location and season. They are positively correlated in general except for the boreal winter high latitudes.  Because the nighttime [O<sub>3</sub>] depends strongly on [O] in the upper mesosphere, it is expected the nighttime [O<sub>3</sub>] would follow the [O] distributions, producing similar diurnal, seasonal, and solar-cycle variations, as well as latitudinal distributions as observed in Carbon Monoxide (CO) in the upper mesosphere.</p>

scholarly journals Solar cycle 24: Implications for energetic particles and long-term space climate change

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (19) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Owens ◽  
M. Lockwood ◽  
L. Barnard ◽  
C. J. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Solar Cycle 24 ◽  
Cycle 24

scholarly journals Long-term studies of MLT summer length definitions based on mean zonal wind features observed for more than one solar cycle at mid- and high-latitudes in the northern hemisphere

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Jaen ◽  
Toralf Renkwitz ◽  
Jorge L. Chau ◽  
Maosheng He ◽  
Peter Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. Specular meteor radars (SMRs) and partial reflection radars (PRRs) have been observing mesospheric winds for more than a solar cycle over Germany (~54 °N) and northern Norway (~69 °N). This work investigates the mesospheric mean zonal wind and the zonal mean geostrophic zonal wind from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) over these two regions between 2004 and 2020. Our study focuses on the summer when strong planetary waves are absent and the stratospheric and tropospheric conditions are relatively stable. We establish two definitions of the summer length according to the zonal wind reversals: (1) the mesosphere and lower thermosphere summer length (MLT-SL) using SMR and PRR winds, and (2) the mesosphere summer length (M-SL) using PRR and MLS. Under both definitions, the summer begins around April and ends around mid-September. The largest year to year variability is found in the summer beginning in both definitions, particularly at high-latitudes, possibly due to the influence of the polar vortex. At high-latitudes, the year 2004 has a longer summer length compared to the mean value for MLT-SL, as well as 2012 for both definitions. The M-SL exhibits an increasing trend over the years, while MLT-SL does not have a well-defined trend. We explore a possible influence of solar activity, as well as large-scale atmospheric influences (e.g. quasi-biennial oscillations (QBO), El Niño-southern oscillation (ENSO), major sudden stratospheric warming events). We complement our work with an extended time series of 31 years at mid-latitudes using only PRR winds. In this case, the summer length shows a breakpoint, suggesting a non-uniform trend, and periods similar to those known for ENSO and QBO.

scholarly journals Meteor radar quasi two-day wave observations over 10 years at Collm (51.3° N, 13.0° E)

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 9631-9659
Author(s):  
F. Lilienthal ◽  
C. Jacobi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Meteor Radar ◽  
Annual Variability ◽  
Summer Maximum ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Clear Relation ◽  
Phase Differences

Abstract. The quasi two-day wave (QTDW) at 82–97 km altitude over Collm (51° N, 13° E) has been observed using a~VHF meteor radar. The long-term mean amplitudes calculated using data between September 2004 and August 2014 show a strong summer maximum and a much weaker winter maximum. In summer, the meridional amplitude is slightly larger than the zonal one with about 15 m s−1 at 91 km height. Phase differences are slightly greater than 90° on an average. The periods of the summer QTDW vary between 43 and 52 H during strong bursts, while in winter the periods tend to be more diffuse. On an average, the summer QTDW is amplified after a maximum of zonal wind shear which is connected with the summer mesospheric jet and there is a possible correlation of the summer mean amplitudes with the backgound wind shear. QTDW amplitudes exhibit considerable inter-annual variability, however, a clear relation between the 11 year solar cycle and the QTDW is not found.

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