MAUI/MALT: Lidar Investigation of Mesosphere Dynamics

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

Observational research with a Na wind and temperature lidar, currently located at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (a USAF facility) on Mt. Haleakala, HI, is continued. The 3.7 m aperture lidar is the centerpiece of a suite of optical and radar instrumentation located nearby for the purpose of collaborative studies of dynamics in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MALT). The research focus is three-fold. The first task quantifies the gravity wave induced vertical flux of horizontal momentum including directional information relevant to ducting. The directional aspect of gravity waves is used to help determine the location of generating sources. The second task is quantification of gravity wave phase and velocity using both optical and radar measurement techniques, to detect and compare both high frequency and low frequency wave phase and wave speed. The third task is to study and quantify gravity wave induced heat and constituent fluxes in the MALT region.