Date of Award:
12-2021
Document Type:
Dissertation
Degree Name:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department:
Physics
Committee Chair(s)
Vincent B. Wickwar
Committee
Vincent B. Wickwar
Committee
D. Mark Riffe
Committee
Michael Taylor
Committee
Jed Hancock
Committee
Ludger Scherliess
Abstract
The Earth’s atmosphere is comprised of layers which can be defined by their temperature characteristics. These layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere. The region where life exists is in the troposphere, however the study of the layers above is important as changes in these regions can directly impact, or indicate significant changes in, weather in the troposphere. The mesosphere is the least well-known region because it is the most difficult to observe. One of the best tools for observing this region is the Rayleigh-scatter lidar. It is capable of remotely observing the entirety of the mesosphere with good time and altitude resolution. Until recently, this tool was used mainly to study temperatures in the middle atmosphere. In this work we introduce a new, reliable method for obtaining the absolute densities in this region. Long term trends were studied, and are presented, in the temperature and densities int the form of climatologies. Additionally, a case study of atmospheric tides is presented which utilizes the new densities and temperatures.
Checksum
bf479751fccc3765a6604017d159ac89
Recommended Citation
Price, Jonathan L., "Absolute Neutral Densities and Temperatures and Their Climatologies in the Middle Atmosphere Using an Optimal Estimation Method With Rayleigh-Scatter Lidar Observations Obtained at Utah State University" (2021). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 8225.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/8225
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