Inferring the mesosphere/lower thermosphere wind field variability from a multi-station multi-frequency meteor radar network

Abstract:

The mesosphere/lower-thermosphere (MLT) is a highly variable atmospheric region driven by atmospheric waves. In particular, gravity waves play an important role for the mid-latitude MLT dynamics. Analyzing gravity wave parameters requires measurements e.g. of horizontal winds resolved in both space and time. Here we present a new concept to investigate the horizontal wind variability making use of the MMARIA (Multi-Station Multi-Frequency agile Radar for investigation of the Atmosphere). The network consists of two meteor radars at Juliusruh (54.6°N, 13.45°E) and Collm (51.3°N, 13°E) in Germany, as well as three forward scatter receive only stations at Kühlungsborn (54.1°N, 11.75°E) with dual frequency capability and Juliusruh (Germany). The combination of forward scatter meteor observations and monostatic radars permits to increase the temporal resolution of the MLT winds as well as to enhance the altitudinal coverage due to the increased Bragg wavelengths. We are going to present the preliminary results of this new approach and present our initial gravity waves analysis since summer 2015. The MMARIA network is suitable to study gravity waves and the horizontal wind variability for horizontal wavelength scales between 80-500 km and a temporal resolution between 15-60 minutes. These spatial and temporal scales are hardly accessible by any other remote sensing technique in so far this novel technique compliments existing observations of MLT winds.