scholarly journals Coincident extremely large sporadic sodium and sporadic E layers observed in the lower thermosphere over Colorado and Utah

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. P. Williams ◽  
F. T. Berkey ◽  
J. Sherman ◽  
C. Y. She
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Ion Density ◽  
Bear Lake ◽  
Sodium Layer ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
Fort Collins ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Wind Shears

Abstract. On the night of 2 June 2002, the sodium lidar in Fort Collins, CO (40.6 N, 105 W) measured an extremely strong sporadic sodium layer lasting from 03:30 to 05:00 UT with several weaker layers later in the night at 06:00 and 09:00 UT. There is a double layer structure with peaks at 101 and 104 km. The peak sodium density was 21 000 atoms/cm3 with a column abundance of up to twice that of the normal sodium layer. The peak density was 500 times greater than the typical density at that altitude. The sporadic layer abundance and strength factor were higher than any reported in the literature. The two lidar beams, separated by 70 km at this altitude, both measured 0.6 h periodicities in the abundance, but out of phase with each other by 0.3 h. There is also evidence for strong wave activity in the lidar temperatures and winds. The NOAA ionosonde in Boulder, CO (40.0 N, 105 W) measured a critical frequency (foEs) of 14.3 MHz at 03:00 UT on this night, the highest value anytime during 2002. The high values of total ion density inferred means that Na+ fraction must have been only a few percent to explain the neutral Na layer abundances. The Bear Lake, Utah (41.9 N, 111.4 W) dynasonde also measured intense Es between 02:00 and 05:00 UT and again from 06:00 to 08:00 UT about 700 km west of the lidar, with most of the ionograms during these intervals measuring Es up to 12 MHz, the limit of the ionosonde sweep. Other ionosondes around North America on the NGDC database measured normal foEs values that night, so it was a localized event within North America. The peak of Es activity observed in Europe during the summer of 2002 occurred on 4 June. The observations are consistent with the current theories where a combination of wind shears and long period waves form and push downward a concentrated layer of ions, which then chemically react and form a narrow layer of sodium atoms.

scholarly journals Seasonal variability and descent of mid-latitude sporadic E layers at Arecibo

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 923-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Christakis ◽  
C. Haldoupis ◽  
Q. Zhou ◽  
C. Meek
Keyword(s):  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Time Base ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Seasonal Behavior ◽  
Incoherent Scatter ◽  
Electron Density Gradient ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
Sporadic E Layer ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Wind Shears

Abstract. Sporadic E layers (Es) follow regular daily patterns in variability and altitude descent, which are determined primarily by the vertical tidal wind shears in the lower thermosphere. In the present study a large set of sporadic E layer incoherent scatter radar (ISR) measurements are analyzed. These were made at Arecibo (Geog. Lat. ~18° N; Magnetic Dip ~50°) over many years with ISR runs lasting from several hours to several days, covering evenly all seasons. A new methodology is applied, in which both weak and strong layers are clearly traced by using the vertical electron density gradient as a function of altitude and time. Taking a time base equal to the 24-h local day, statistics were obtained on the seasonal behavior of the diurnal and semidiurnal tidal variability and altitude descent patterns of sporadic E at Arecibo. The diurnal tide, most likely the S(1,1) tide with a vertical wavelength around 25 km, controls fully the formation and descent of the metallic Es layers at low altitudes below 110 km. At higher altitudes, there are two prevailing layers formed presumably by vertical wind shears associated mainly with semidiurnal tides. These include: 1) a daytime layer starting at ~130 km around midday and descending down to 105 km by local midnight, and 2) a less frequent and weaker nighttime layer which starts prior to midnight at ~130 km, descending downwards at somewhat faster rate to reach 110 km by sunrise. The diurnal and semidiurnal-like pattern prevails, with some differences, in all seasons. The differences in occurrence, strength and descending speeds between the daytime and nighttime upper layers are not well understood from the present data alone and require further study.

scholarly journals Mean winds, temperatures and the 16- and 5-day planetary waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere over Bear Lake Observatory (42° N, 111° W)

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1571-1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Day ◽  
M. J. Taylor ◽  
N. J. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Planetary Waves ◽  
Zonal Winds ◽  
Annual Variability ◽  
Bear Lake ◽  
Meridional Winds ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Wind Shears

Abstract. Atmospheric temperatures and winds in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere have been measured simultaneously using the Aura satellite and a meteor radar at Bear Lake Observatory (42° N, 111° W), respectively. The data presented in this study is from the interval March 2008 to July 2011. The mean winds observed in the summer-time over Bear Lake Observatory show the meridional winds to be equatorward at meteor heights during April−August and to reach monthly-mean velocities of −12 m s−1. The mean winds are closely related to temperatures in this region of the atmosphere and in the summer the coldest mesospheric temperatures occur about the same time as the strongest equatorward meridional winds. The zonal winds are eastward through most of the year and in the summer strong eastward zonal wind shears of up to ~4.5 m s−1 km−1 are present. However, westward winds are observed at the upper heights in winter and sometimes during the equinoxes. Considerable inter-annual variability is observed in the mean winds and temperatures. Comparisons of the observed winds with URAP and HWM-07 reveal some large differences. Our radar zonal wind observations are generally more eastward than predicted by the URAP model zonal winds. Considering the radar meridional winds, in comparison to HWM-07 our observations reveal equatorward flow at all meteor heights in the summer whereas HWM-07 suggests that only weakly equatorward, or even poleward flows occur at the lower heights. However, the zonal winds observed by the radar and modelled by HWM-07 are generally similar in structure and strength. Signatures of the 16- and 5-day planetary waves are clearly evident in both the radar-wind data and Aura-temperature data. Short-lived wave events can reach large amplitudes of up to ~15 m s−1 and 8 K and 20 m s−1 and 10 K for the 16- and 5-day waves, respectively. A clear seasonal and short-term variability are observed in the 16- and 5-day planetary wave amplitudes. The 16-day wave reaches largest amplitude in winter and is also present in summer, but with smaller amplitudes. The 5-day wave reaches largest amplitude in winter and in late summer. An inter-annual variability in the amplitude of the planetary waves is evident in the four years of observations. Some 41 episodes of large-amplitude wave occurrence are identified. Temperature and wind amplitudes for these episodes, AT and AW, that passed the Student T-test were found to be related by, AT = 0.34 AW and AT = 0.62 AW for the 16- and 5-day wave, respectively.

scholarly journals Quarterdiurnal signature in sporadic E occurrence rates and comparison with neutral wind shear

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Jacobi ◽  
Christina Arras ◽  
Christoph Geißler ◽  
Friederike Lilienthal
Keyword(s):  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Maximum Deviation ◽  
Driving Mechanism ◽  
Earth Magnetic Field ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Wind Shears

Abstract. The GPS radio occultation (RO) technique is used to study sporadic E (ES) layer plasma irregularities of the Earth’s ionosphere on a global scale using GPS signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) profiles from the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 satellite. The maximum deviation from the mean SNR can be attributed to the height of the ES layer. ES are generally accepted to be produced by ion convergence due to vertical wind shear in the presence of a horizontal component of the Earth magnetic field, while the wind shear is provided mainly by solar tides. Here we present analyses of quarterdiurnal (QDT) signatures in ES occurrence rates. We find from a local comparison with mesosphere/lower thermosphere wind shear obtained with a meteor radar at Collm (51:3°N, 13:0°E), that the phases of the QDT in ES agree well with those of negative wind shear for all seasons except for summer, when the QDT amplitudes are small. We also compare the global QDT ES signal with numerical model results. The global distribution of ES occurrence rates qualitatively agrees with the modeled zonal wind shears. The results indicate that zonal wind shear is indeed an important driving mechanism for the QDT seen in ES.

scholarly journals Characteristics of double sodium layer over Haikou, China (20.0° N, 110.1° E)

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-34
Author(s):  
Ян Дали ◽  
Yang Dali ◽  
Чжан Теминь ◽  
Zhang Tiemin ◽  
Ван Цзихун ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Dye Laser ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Middle Latitudes ◽  
Sodium Layer ◽  
Layer Structures ◽  
Low Latitudes ◽  
Sporadic E Layer ◽  
Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Sporadic E

We study the property of double sodium layer structures (DSLs) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) by a lidar at the low-latitude location of Haikou (20.0° N, 110.1° E), China. From April 2010 to December 2013, 21 DSLs were observed within a total of 377 observation days. DSLs were recorded at middle latitudes of Beijing and Wuhan, China, but were rarely observed at low latitudes. We analyze and discuss characteristics of DSLs such as time of occurrence, peak altitude, FWHM, duration time, etc. At the same time, the critical frequency foEs and the virtual height h'Es of the sporadic E layer Es were observed by an ionosonde over Danzhou (19.0° N, 109.3° E). We discuss such their characteristics as differences of time, differences of altitude compared to DSLs. We used an Nd:YAG laser pumped dye laser to generate the probing beam. The wavelength of the dye laser was set to 589 nm by a sodium fluorescence cell. The backscattered fluorescence photons from the sodium layer were collected by a telescope with the Φ1000 mm primary mirror.

scholarly journals A case study of a sporadic sodium layer observed by the ALOMAR Weber Na lidar

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1071-1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Nesse ◽  
D. Heinrich ◽  
B. Williams ◽  
U.-P. Hoppe ◽  
J. Stadsnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energetic Electron ◽  
Electron Bombardment ◽  
Meteor Radar ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Sodium Layer ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
Meteoric Smoke ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Dependent Mechanism

Abstract. Several possible mechanisms for the production of sporadic sodium layers have been discussed in the literature, but none of them seem to explain all the accumulated observations. The hypotheses range from direct meteoric input, to energetic electron bombardment on meteoric smoke particles, to ion neutralization, to temperature dependent chemistry. The varied instrumentation located on Andøya and near Tromsø in Norway gives us an opportunity to test the different theories applied to high latitude sporadic sodium layers. We use the ALOMAR Weber sodium lidar to monitor the appearance and characteristics of a sporadic sodium layer that was observed on 5 November 2005. We also monitor the temperature to test the hypotheses regarding a temperature dependent mechanism. The EISCAT Tromsø Dynasonde, the ALOMAR/UiO All-sky camera and the SKiYMET meteor radar on Andøya are used to test the suggested relationships of sporadic sodium layers and sporadic E-layers, electron precipitation, and meteor deposition during this event. We find that more than one candidate is eligible to explain our observation of the sporadic sodium layer.

scholarly journals Comparison of sporadic sodium layer characteristics observed at different time resolutions

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 1899-1912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Liu ◽  
B. R. Clemesha ◽  
J. H. Wang ◽  
X. W. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Time Resolution ◽  
Apparent Movement ◽  
Peak Height ◽  
Thin Layers ◽  
Height Range ◽  
Sodium Layer ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
Excellent Work ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Meteor Trails

Abstract. Sporadic sodium (Nas) layers, occurring in roughly the same height range as ionospheric sporadic-E layers, were first detected by lidar some 30 yr ago. Nas layers have a typical thickness of a few hundred meters to a few km, with peak atom concentrations several times that of the background layer. Despite a great deal of excellent work over the past decades, the source of Nas layers is still not altogether clear, partly as a result of our incomplete knowledge of Nas layer characteristics. In this paper we concentrate on some typical case studies chosen from the ~127 h of sporadic sodium layer observations made at a time resolution of 1.5 s at Yanqing (115.97° E, 40.47° N), Beijing, China. This is a much better time resolution than what has been employed in most earlier measurements. The results show that the Nas layer peak heights are dispersed at slightly different although adjacent heights. When averaged over several minutes, as has been the case with most earlier measurements, the height scatter results in an apparent layer thickness of a few km. We conclude, therefore, that these dispersed peaks at different but adjacent heights constitute the 5 min Nas layer. Similar to the observations of sporadic-E-ion (Es) layers and meteor rate, we observe quasi-periodic fluctuations on a timescale on the order of several minutes in the peak height and the peak density of sporadic layers, which is a universal feature but concealed by the lower temporal resolution previously adopted. Spatially localized multiple scatterers and multiple thin layers with similar apparent movement in Nas layers are also found. We discuss the possible formation mechanism by the direct deposition of large swarms of micrometeoroids and demonstrate a typical example of meteor trails evolving into a Nas layer, which suggests that this mechanism might indeed occur.

scholarly journals The formation of sporadic E layers by a vortical perturbation excited in a horizontal wind shear flow

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1741-1749 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. G. Didebulidze ◽  
L. N. Lomidze
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Shear Waves ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Horizontal Shear ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Sporadic E

Abstract. The formation of the mid-latitude sporadic E layers (Es layers) by an atmospheric vortical perturbation excited in a horizontal shear flow (horizontal wind with a horizontal linear shear) is investigated. A three-dimensional atmospheric vortical perturbation (atmospheric shear waves), whose velocity vector is in the horizontal plane and has a vertical wavenumber kz≠0, can provide a vertical shear of the horizontal wind. The shear waves influence the vertical transport of heavy metallic ions and their convergence into thin and dense horizontal layers. The proposed mechanism takes into account the dynamical influence of the shear wave velocity in the horizontal wind on the vertical drift velocity of the ions. It also can explain the multi-layer structure of Es layers. The pattern of the multi-layer structure depends on the value of the shear-wave vertical wavelength, the ion-neutral collision frequency and the direction of the background horizontal wind. The modelling of formation of sporadic E layers with a single and a double peak is presented. Also, the importance of shear wave coupling with short-period atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) on the variations of sporadic E layer ion density is examined and discussed.

scholarly journals Quarterdiurnal signature in sporadic E occurrence rates and comparison with neutral wind shear

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Jacobi ◽  
Christina Arras ◽  
Christoph Geißler ◽  
Friederike Lilienthal
Keyword(s):  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Maximum Deviation ◽  
Driving Mechanism ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Wind Shears

Abstract. The GPS radio occultation (RO) technique is used to study sporadic E (Es) layer plasma irregularities of the Earth's ionosphere on a global scale using GPS signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) profiles from the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 satellite. The maximum deviation from the mean SNR can be attributed to the height of the Es layer. Es are generally accepted to be produced by ion convergence due to vertical wind shear in the presence of a horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field, while the wind shear is provided mainly by the solar tides. Here we present analyses of quarterdiurnal tide (QDT) signatures in Es occurrence rates. From a local comparison with mesosphere/lower thermosphere wind shear obtained with a meteor radar at Collm (51.3∘ N, 13.0∘ E), we find that the phases of the QDT in Es agree well with those of negative vertical shear of the zonal wind for all seasons except for summer, when the QDT amplitudes are small. We also compare the global QDT Es signal with numerical model results. The global distribution of the Es occurrence rates qualitatively agrees with the modeled zonal wind shears. The results indicate that zonal wind shear is indeed an important driving mechanism for the QDT seen in Es.

scholarly journals Sporadic sodium layer: A possible tracer for the conjunction between the upper and lower atmospheres

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shican Qiu ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
Willie Soon ◽  
Gaopeng Lu ◽  
Mingjiao Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Atmospheric Electric Field ◽  
Fluxgate Magnetometer ◽  
Ionospheric Disturbances ◽  
Sodium Layer ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Statistical Results

Abstract. In this research, we reveal the inter-connection between lightning strokes, reversal of the electric field, ionospheric disturbances, and a trigger of sporadic sodium layer event (NaS), based on the joint observations by three lidars, an ionosonde, an atmospheric electric mill, a fluxgate magnetometer, and World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN). Our results suggest that lightning strokes would probably have an influence on the ionosphere and thus give rise to the occurrence of NaS, with the overturning of electric field playing an important role. Statistical results reveal that the sporadic E layers (ES) could hardly be formed or maintained when the atmospheric electric field turns upward. A conjunction between the lower and upper atmospheres could be established by these inter-connected phenomena, and the key processes could be suggested as follows: lightning strokes→overturning of electric field→different collisional frequencies for ions and electrons→depletion of ES/generation of NaS.

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