Comparison of Terdiurnal Tidaloscillations in Mesospheric OH Rotational Temperature and Na Lidar Temperature Measurementsat Mid-latitudes

Authors

Michael J. Taylor, Utah State UniversityFollow
W. R. Pendleton Jr.
C. S. Gardner, Utah State University
R. J. States

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Earth, Planets and Space

Volume

51

Publication Date

1999

First Page

877

Abstract

Results from two different instrumental techniques, an Na Wind/Temperature Lidar and an OH Mesospheric Temperature Mapper, have been combined to investigate the occurrence and properties of the mid-latitude terdiurnal (8-hr) tide at near mesopause altitudes (80–105 km). High-resolution Na lidar measurements were taken throughout the diurnal and annual cycle (1996–98) at Urbana, Illinois (40°N, 88°W) to characterize the seasonal behavior of the 24, 12, 8 and 6-hr tides. Complementary measurements using a recently developed CCD imager capable of mapping OH temperature (at ∼87 km altitude) were made from Bear Lake Observatory, Utah (41.9°N, 111.6°W) and Ft. Collins, Colorado (40.6°N, 105°W) within the same time period. The “mean day” lidar data for the spring and fall periods investigated here each indicate an average amplitude variation of ∼2–5 K over the depth of the OH layer but distinct phases of

Recommended Citation

Taylor, M.J., W.R. Pendleton, Jr., C.S. Gardner, and R.J. States, Comparison of terdiurnal tidal oscillations in mesospheric OH rotational temperature and Na lidar temperature measurements at mid-latitudes, Earth, Planets and Space, 51, 877, 1999.

https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03353246