Effects of Enhanced Solar Disturbances During the 2000-02 Solar-Max Period, on the Antarctic Mesosphere-Lower-Thermosphere and F Regions Composition, Thermodynamics and Dynamics

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach FL

Investigators

Abstract

Observations in the visible and near-infrared of upper-atmospheric emissions above South Pole Station will be used to study the heating effects of auroral electrical currents in the ionosphere as well as planetary waves and atmospheric tides. The project is particularly timely for two reasons: first the sun is now in the period of maximum activity and secondly, because NASA will launch the TIMED (Thermosphere, Ionosphere and Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) satellite in December, 2000. TIMED is designed to study just those parts of the atmosphere that that Professor Sivjee's project will. TIMED will provide data on the temperature, winds and tides of the Earth's upper atmosphere, especially above the poles as it passes overhead; however, as is often the case with satellites, it is difficult to differentiate between variations in location or time. The South Pole ground-based observations will be valuable in sorting out the time-location question.