Arctic Lidar Measurements of the Middle Atmosphere

Abstract

In January of 1993 the Atmospheric Environment Service (AES) of Canada opened the Arctic Stratospheric Observatory (AStrO). The observatory is located close to Eureka (80° N, 86° W) in the Canadian high arctic which is also the site of a long running weather station. AStrO is one of the primary arctic stations of the NDSC (Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change). The NDSC is a network of remote-sounding research stations for observing and understanding the physical and chemical state of the stratosphere. At these stations the ozone and key ozone related parameters are measured by a variety of sensor systems. The group from the Institute for Space and Terrestrial Science (ISTS), with headquarters at York University in Toronto, has the responsibility of undertaking the lidar measurements at AStrO for AES. Working with the ISTS lidar group are Japanese lidar researchers from the Meteorological Research Institute, Communications Research Laboratories and Nagoya University.