Turbulence and Overturning Gravity Wave Effects Deduced From Mesospheric NA Density Between 100-105 KM at Andes Lidar Observatory, Chile

Authors

Alan Z. Liu, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityFollow
Channing P. Philbrick, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Gary R. Swenson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Fabio A. Vargas, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Submitting Campus

Daytona Beach

Department

Physical Sciences

Document Type

Poster

Publication/Presentation Date

2016

Abstract/Description

Atmospheric turbulence activity in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region is determined from narrowband Na lidar measurements obtained over 27 nights between 85-105 km altitude at the Andes Lidar Observatory (ALO) in Cerro Pachón, Chile (30.3ºS, 70.7ºW). Photocount perturbations in the applicable spectral subrange are used as a tracer of turbulence activity. Mean altitude profiles reveal a log-scale linear increase in turbulence perturbation amplitude above 95 km. The observed trend is compared against global mean constituent transport profiles derived from SABER and SCIAMACHY satellite borne measurements.

Grant or Award Name

NSF grants AGS12-42895, AGS 11-10334, AGS-1115249

Scholarly Commons Citation

Philbrick, C. P., Swenson, G. R., Vargas, F. A., & Liu, A. Z. Turbulence and Overturning Gravity Wave Effects Deduced from Mesospheric Na Density Between 100-105 Km at Andes Lidar Observatory, Chile.