Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Middle Atmosphere Studies with the Eiscat Radars:Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes

  • Chapter
Coupling Processes in the Lower and Middle Atmosphere

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 387))

Abstract

The EISCAT radars are used for ground-based remote sensing of the middle and upper atmosphere in polar regions. As an outstanding example of coupling between the neutral and ionized mesosphere we describe here the Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes: PMSE. The experimental technique is briefly outlined and characteristics of PMSE, observed with EISCAT, are described. These cannot generally be attributed to turbulence scatter or incoherent scatter. We report about dynamical features seen in PMSE, such as gravity waves, which can be steepened, and turbulence. Also features of solitary waves are seen in the PMSE. The PMSE are often occurring in thin strata or laminae, which can be attributed to localized cooling due to long period waves. Here the electron density can be depleted, which is also observed with the radar. We discuss the possibility of enhanced fluctuations in the electron gas at smaller scales than the neutral turbulence fluctuations, which cause PMSE. This can occur in the presence of large and heavy cluster ions, which form in the cold polar mesosphere. Also effects of non-thermal electron density fluctuations due to the presence of charged dust or cluster ions is briefly discussed as possible cause of PMSE, and an outlook is given on future directions of this research work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Balsley, B.B. and Riddle, A.C. (1984) ‘Monthly mean values of the mesospheric wind field over Poker Flat, Alaska’, J. atmos. Sci. 41, 2368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balsley, B.B., Ecklund, W.L. and Fritts, D.C. (1983) ‘VHF echoes from the high-latitude mesosphere and lower thermosphere: observations and interpretations’, J. atmos. Sci. 40, 2451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chanin M.-L. and Hauchecome A. (1987) ‘Lidar observation of gravity and tidal waves in the stratosphere and mesosphere’, J. geophys. Res. 86, 9715.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho, J.YN., Hall, T.M., Kelley, M.C. (1992a) ‘On the role of charged aerosols in polar mesosphere summer echoes’, J. Geophys. Res. 97, 875–886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho, J.Y.N., Kelley, M.C. and Heinselman, C.J. (1992b) ‘Enhancement of Thomson scatter by charged aerosols in the po.r mesosphere: measurements with a 1.29 GHz radar’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 19, 1097–1100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collis, P.N., Turunen, T. and Turunen E. (1988) ‘Detection of heavy positive ions at the arctic mesopause with the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 148–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collis, P.N. and Wöttger, J. (1990), ‘Mesospheric studies using the EISCAT UHF and VHF radars: A review of principles and experimental results’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 52, 569–584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collis, P.N., Rietveld, M.T., Röstger, J. and Hocking, W.K.H. (1992) ‘Turbulence scattering in the middle mesosphere observed by the EISCAT 224 MHz radar’, Radio Sci. 27, 97–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croskey, C.L., Hale, L.C. and Mitchell, J.D. (1990) ‘Electrical stratification in the middle atmosphere’, Adv. Space Res. 10, 49–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Czechowsky, P., Reid, I.M., Rüster, R. and Schmidt, G. (1989) ‘VHF radar echoes observed in the summer and winter polar mesosphere over Andoya, Norway’, J. geophys. Res. 94, 5199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doviak, R.J., Chen, S.S. and Christie, D.R. (1991) ‘A thunderstorm-generated solitary wave observation compared with theory for non-linear waves in a sheared atmosphere’, J. Ammos. Sci., 48, 87–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ecklund, W.L. and Balsley, B.B. (1981) ‘Long-term observations of the arctic mesosphere with the MST radar at Poker Flat, Alaska’, J.geophys. Res. 86, 7775.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franke, S.J., Röttger, J., La Hoz, C. and Liu, C.H. (1992) ‘Frequency domain interferometry of polar mesosphere summer echoes with the EISCAT VHF radar’, Radio Sci. 27, 417–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritts, D.C., Smith, S.A., Balsley, B.B. and Philbrick, C.R. (1988) ‘Evidence for gravity wave saturation and local turbulence production in the summer mesosphere and lower thermosphere during the STATE experiment’, J. geophys. Res. 93, 7015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritts, D.C., Hoppe, U.-P. and Inhester, B. (1990) ‘A study of the vertical motion field near the high-latitude summer mesopause during MAC/SINE’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 52, 927.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goertz, C.K. and Ip, W.-H. (1984) ‘Limitation of electrostatic charging of dust particles in a plasma’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 11, 349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, R.A. (1990) ‘Middle atmospheric electrodynamics during MAP’, Adv. Space Phys. 10, 209–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, C. (1990) ‘Modification of the energy-wavenumber spectrum for heavy proton hydrates as tracers for isotropic turbulence at the summer mesopause’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 5549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, C.M. and Brekke, A. (1988) ‘High Schmidt numbers in the mesopause region from 224 MHz incoherent backscatter’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 561–564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, T.M., Cho, J.Y.N., Kelley, M.C. and Hocking, W.K. (1992) ‘A re-evaluation of the Stokes drift in the polar summer mesosphere’, J. geophys. Res. 97, 887–897.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagfors, T. (1992) ‘Note on the scattering of electromagnetic waves from charged dust particles in a plasma’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 54, 333–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Havnes, O., de Angelis, U., Bingham, R., Goertz, C.K., Morfill, G.E. and Tsytovich, V. (1990) ‘On the role of dust in the summer mesopause’, J. atmos. tern. Phys. 52, 637–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Havnes, O., Melandsö, La Hoz, C. and Aslaksen, T.K. (1992) ‘Charged dust in the earth’s mesopause: Effects on radar backscatter’, Phys. Scr. 45, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoppe, U.-P. and Hansen, T.L. (1988) ‘Studies of vertical motions in the upper mesosphere using the EISCAT UHF radar’, Ann. Geophys. 6, 181–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoppe, U.-P., Hall, C. and Röttger, J. (1988) ‘First observations of polar mesospheric back-scatter with a 224 MHz radar’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 28–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoppe, U.-P., Fritts, D.C., Reid, I.M., Czechowsky, P., Hall, C.M. and Hansen, T.L. (1990) ‘Multiple frequency studies of the high latitude summer mesosphere: Implications for scattering processes’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 52, 907–926.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, E.J., Thomas, G.E. and Balsley, B.B. (1988) ‘On the statistical correlation between polar mesospheric cloud occurrence and enhanced mesospheric radar echoes’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 315–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, G.O.L., Winser, K.J., Röttger, J., La Hoz, C. and Franke, S. (1989) ‘A statistical review of EISCAT PMSE data’, Handbook for MAP 28, 126–130..

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, M.C., Ulwick, J.C., Röttger, J., Inhester, B., Hall, T.M. and Blix, T. (1990) ‘Intense turbulence in the polar mesosphere: rocket and radar measurements’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 52, 875–891.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, M.C. and Ulwick, J.C. (1988) ‘Large-and small-scale organization of electrons in the high-latitude mesosphere: Implications of the STATE data’, J. geophys. Res. 93, 7001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopp, E., Philbrick, C.R., Thomas and Witt, G. (1985) ‘Super CAMP: A research project to investigate the polar middle atmosphere in summer with rocket launches from 65°-80°N’, Proc. 7th ESA Symposium ESA SP-229, 125–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Hoz, C. (1992) ‘Radar scattering from dusty plasma’, Phys. Scr. 45, 529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Hoz, C., Röttger, J., Rietveld, J., Wannberg, G. and Franke, S.J. (1989a) ‘The status and developments of EISCAT in mesosphere and D-region experiments’, Handbook for MAP 28, 476–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Hoz, C., Röttger, J. and Franke, S.J. (1989b) ‘Dynamic spectra of PMSE measured by EISCAT at 224 MHz’, Handbook for MAP 28, 248–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mobbs S.D. (1985) ‘Propagation of nonlinear internal gravity waves at stratospheric and mesospheric heights - Part III: The wave shape’, Ann. Geophys. 3, 599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka, Y., Kawahira, K., Sato, T., Tsuda, T., Fukao, S. and Kato, S. (1987) ‘Characteristics of mesospheric internal gravity waves observed by MU radar’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 14, 1154–1157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olivem, J.J. and Thomas, G.E. (1987) ‘Climatology of polar mesospheric clouds’, J. atmos. Sci. 43, 1263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, G. (1990) ‘Ice particles and electron ‘bite-outs’ at the summer polar mesopause’, J. geophys. Res. 95, 13891–13896.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rishbeth, H. van Eyken, A.P., Lanchester, B.S., Turunen, T., Röttger, J., Hall, C. M. and Hoppe, U.-P. (1988) ‘EISCAT VHF radar observations of periodic mesopause echoes’, Planet. Space Sci. 36, 423–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Röttger, J. (1980) ‘Structure and dynamics of the stratosphere and mesosphere revealed by VHF radar investigations’, Pure Appl. Geophys. 118, 494–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Röttger J., La Hoz, C., Kelley, M.C., Hoppe, U.-P. and C. Hall (1988) ‘The structure and dynamics of polar mesosphere summer echoes observed with the EISCAT 224 MHz radar’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 1353–1356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Röttger, J. and La Hoz, C. (1990) ‘Characteristics of polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) observed with the EISCAT 224 MHz and possible explanations of their origin’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 52, 893–906.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Röttger, J., Rietveld, M.T., La Hoz, C., Hall, T., Kelley, M.C. and Swartz, W.E. (1990a) ‘Polar mesosphere summer echoes observed with the EISCAT 933 MHz radar and the CUPRI 46.9 MHz radar, their similarity to 224 MHz radar echoes, and their relation to turbulence and electron density profiles’, Radio Sci. 25, 671–687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ringer, J., La Hoz,C., Franke, S.J. and Liu, C.H. (1990b) ‘Steepening of reflectivity structures in high resolution Doppler spectra of polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) observed with the EISCAT 224 MHz radar’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 52, 939–954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, M.J., van Eyken, A.P., Rishbeth, H., Witt, G., Witt N. and Clilverd, M.A. (1989) ‘Simultaneous observations of noctilucent clouds and polar mesospheric radar echoes: evidence for non-correlation’, Planet. Space Sci. 37, 1013–1020.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, G.E., Olivero, J.J., Jensen, E.J., Schröder, W. and Toon, O.B. (1989) ‘Relation between increasing methane and the presence of ice clouds at the mesopause’, Nature 338, 490–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trakhtengerts, V.Y. (1992) ‘The generation of electric field fluctuations by aerosol particle flow in the mesosphere’, J.atmos. terr. Phys. 54, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, E., Collis, P.N. and Turunen, T. (1988) ‘Incoherent scatter spectral measurements of the summertime high latitude D-region with the EISCAT UHF radar’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 50, 289–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, E. (1992) ‘EISCAT incoherent scatter radar observations and model studies of day to twilight variations in the D-region during the PCA event of August 1989’, J. atmos. terr. Phys. 54, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Eyken, A.P., Hall, C. and Williams, P.J.S. (1991) ‘A determination of the orientation of polar mesosphere summer echo layers using EISCAT as a dual beam radar’, Radio Sci. 26, 395–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Widdel, H.U. (1992) ‘Solitäre Wellen in der Mesosphäre’, Kleinheub. Berichte 35, 255–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P.J.S., van Eyken, A.P., Hall, C. and Röttger, J. (1989) ‘Modulations in the polar mesosphere summer echoes and associated atmospheric gravity waves, Geophys. Res. Lett. 16, 1437–1440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witt, G. (1962) ‘Height, structure, and displacements of noctilucent clouds, Tellus 14, 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Zandt T.E. and Fritts, D.C. (1989) ‘A theory of enhanced saturation of the gravity wave spectrum due to increases in atmospheric stabilituy’, Pure Appl. Geophys. 130, 391.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EISCAT Scientific Association, P.O. Box 812, S-981 28, Kiruna, Sweden

    J. Röttger

Authors
  1. J. Röttger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Division for Electronics, Kjeller, Norway

    Eivind V. Thrane  & Tom A. Blix  & 

  2. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA

    David C. Fritts

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Röttger, J. (1993). Middle Atmosphere Studies with the Eiscat Radars:Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes. In: Thrane, E.V., Blix, T.A., Fritts, D.C. (eds) Coupling Processes in the Lower and Middle Atmosphere. NATO ASI Series, vol 387. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1594-0_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1594-0_25

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4694-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1594-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation