Atmospheric Sodium measured by a Tuned Laser Radar

Bowman, M.R.; Gibson, A.J.; Sandford, M. C. W.

doi:10.1038/221456a0

Cited by 192 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Free metal atom layers (Na, Fe, K, Ca, and Li), residing in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region from 80 to 110 km, have been detected with ground-based lidar for over 40 years (Bowman et al, 1969). Meteoric ablation is believed to provide the substance source for the metal layers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Average properties and small-scale variations of the mesospheric Na and Fe layers as observed simultaneously by two closely colocated lidars at 30° N

Chen

2011

Ann. Geophys.

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Abstract. We report the average properties and small-scale variation features of the mesospheric Na and Fe layers at 30 • N from extensive simultaneous and common-volume Na and Fe lidar measurements at Wuhan, China. The annual mean Na and Fe density profiles are derived in terms of an averaging method taken from an early literature. The mean Na and Fe profiles preserve the sharp gradients present in most individual density profiles near the layer bottom. Near the bottommost of the layers the mean Na and Fe scale heights are respectively −0.42 and −0.30 km. The mean layer parameters coincide well with the previous report. The Na and Fe densities in the lowest several kilometers of the layers consistently exhibit nearly the same time variations. A clearcut distinction between the Na and Fe time variations always appears in an altitude range near 90 km. A relatively weak positive correlation between them persistently occurs also in an altitude range near 100 km. The mean increase and decrease rates for both Na and Fe are altitude dependent and have a single-peak structure. The time constant of the layer variation is ∼0.07-2.0 h for Na and ∼0.02-1.7 h for Fe, suggesting that the variability is dominated by small-scale processes. However, there is also a slow net increase in each of the annual mean column abundances (Na and Fe) during night.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Average properties and small-scale variations of the mesospheric Na and Fe layers as observed simultaneously by two closely colocated lidars at 30° N

Chen

2011

Ann. Geophys.

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“…The first resonance scattering lidar observation of the Na layer was made by Bowman et al (1969). Gardner et al observed wave-like structures that were interpreted as gravity waves and also observed the horizontal structure of the Na layer in equatorial and polar areas with an airborne Na lidar (Gardner et al 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lidar Observations of Sporadic Fe and Na Layers in the Mesopause Region over Equator

Shibata

Nagasawa

Abo

et al. 2006

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan

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Characteristics of sodium and iron layers in the mesopause region over the equator observed with the resonance scattering lidars installed at Kototabang, Indonesia (0.2 S, 100.3 E) are reported. These lidars were operated during the night. The sporadic sodium layer (Nas) and the sporadic iron layer (Fes) were detected in almost every observing opportunity other latitude regions. Nas and Fes layers appeared almost at the same time and the heights above 90 km. However, Fes layers appeared below 90 km as well. The occurrence of the Nas layer correlated well with that of sporadic E layer which was observed simultaneously by the ionosonde at Kototabang. On the other hand, the occurrences of the Nas and Fes layers does not correlate with that of the wind shear which has been observed simultaneously by the meteor radar at Kototabang. This result is not in agreement with the result of simultaneous observations by the Na lidar and the MU radar at Hachioji (35.6 N) and Shigaraki (34.9 N) in mid-latitude.

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“…Even the very first lidar observation of an atmospheric metal layer by Bowman et al (1969) exhibited an irregular Na profile. Thereafter, the lidar experiments of Gibson and Sandford (1971) yielded an irregular second maximum in their Na profile.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sporadic Ca and Ca<sup>+</sup> layers at mid-latitudes: Simultaneous observations and implications for their formation

et al. 2001

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Abstract. We report on the observations of 188 sporadic layers of either Ca atoms and/or Ca ions that we have observed during 112 nights of lidar soundings of Ca, and 58 nights of Ca + soundings, at Kühlungsborn, Germany (54 • N, 12 • E). The Ca + soundings have been performed simultaneously and in a common volume with the Ca soundings by two separate lidars. Correlations between sporadic neutral and ionized metal layers are demonstrated through four case studies. A systematic study of the variations of occurrence of sporadic Ca and Ca + layers reveals that neutral and ionized Ca layers are not as closely correlated as expected earlier: (a) The altitude distribution shows the simultaneous occurrence of both sporadic Ca and Ca + layers to be most likely only in the narrow altitude range between 90 and 95 km. Above that region, in the lower thermosphere, the sporadic ion layers are much more frequent than atom layers. Below 90 km only very few sporadic layers have been observed; (b) The seasonal variation of sporadic Ca layers exhibits a minimum of occurrence in summer, while sporadic Ca + layers do not show a significant seasonal variation (only the dense Ca + layers appear to have a maximum in summer). At midlatitudes sporadic Ca layers are more frequent than sporadic layers of other atmospheric metals like Na or K. For the explanation of our observations new formation mechanisms are discussed.

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Atmospheric Sodium measured by a Tuned Laser Radar

Cited by 192 publications

References 15 publications

Average properties and small-scale variations of the mesospheric Na and Fe layers as observed simultaneously by two closely colocated lidars at 30° N

Average properties and small-scale variations of the mesospheric Na and Fe layers as observed simultaneously by two closely colocated lidars at 30° N

Lidar Observations of Sporadic Fe and Na Layers in the Mesopause Region over Equator

Sporadic Ca and Ca<sup>+</sup> layers at mid-latitudes: Simultaneous observations and implications for their formation

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Atmospheric Sodium measured by a Tuned Laser Radar

Cited by 192 publications

References 15 publications

Average properties and small-scale variations of the mesospheric Na and Fe layers as observed simultaneously by two closely colocated lidars at 30° N

Average properties and small-scale variations of the mesospheric Na and Fe layers as observed simultaneously by two closely colocated lidars at 30° N

Lidar Observations of Sporadic Fe and Na Layers in the Mesopause Region over Equator

Sporadic Ca and Ca&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; layers at mid-latitudes: Simultaneous observations and implications for their formation

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Sporadic Ca and Ca<sup>+</sup> layers at mid-latitudes: Simultaneous observations and implications for their formation