Skip to main content
Earth, Planets and Space
Download PDF

Volume 51 Supplement 7-8

Special Issue: Dynamics and Structure of the Mesopause Region (DYSMER)

  • Article
  • Published:

Dynamics of Neutral Wind in the polar region observed with two Fabry-Perot Interferometers

Earth, Planets and Space volume 51, pages 833–844 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Optical observations were made at Ramfjord, Norway from January 10 to February 14,1997. Two types of Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs), Doppler-imaging and scanning, were installed at the EISCAT radar site and were used to acquire data simultaneously with radio instruments. Both FPIs can observe emissions of two different wavelengths simultaneously. We can estimate the horizontal and vertical wind in different emission layers simultaneously with high time-resolution (∼1 min). The observations on February 8 and 9, 1997, show some notable characteristics: (1) large-scale perturbations (≈ ±150 m/s) are observed in the upper thermospheric wind. They seem to begin 30 min after the onset of a magnetic substorm and to stop when the next substorm begins. (2) Clear wave-like structures are found in the horizontal wind variations. Some of them can be seen over the entire sky, and one of them is found in a restricted regions. (3) A clear wave-like structure is also found in the vertical wind in the upper thermosphere. A similar structure can be seen in the lower thermosphere, but these structures are not always in phase. This phases difference starts at the same time that horizontal winds between the two layer has their phase difference. (4) The relation between the vertical wind and the divergence of horizontal wind seems to change with time. The correlation coefficient between them changes one-hours before and on-time of a substorm on-set. This sign of the coefficient is negative in most of the time, with considering about time-lag. It means the vertical morion is caused by divergent flow of horizontal wind.

References

  • Aruliah, A. L. and D. Rees, The trouble with thermospheric vertical winds: geomagnetic, seasonal and solar cycle dependence at high latitudes, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 57, 597–609, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banks, P. M., C. R. Chappell, and A. F. Nagy, A new model for the interaction of auroral electrons with the atmosphere: spectral degradation, backscatter, optical emission, and ionization, J. Geophys. Res., 79, 1459–1470, 1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnside, R. G., F. A. Herrero, J. W. Meriwether, Jr., J. C. G. Walker, Optical observations of thermospheric dynamics at Arecibo, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 5532–5540, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conde, M. and P. L. Dyson, Thermospheric vertical winds above Mawson, Antarctica, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 57, 589–596, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conde, M. and R. W. Smith, Spatial structure in the thermospheric horizontal wind above Poker Flat, Alaska, during solar minimum, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 9449–9471, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crickmore, R. I., J. R. Dudeney, and A. S. Rodger, Vertical thermospheric winds at the equatorward edge of the auroral oval, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 53, 485–492, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey, H. U., G. Haerendel, D. Knudsen, S. Buchert, and O. H. Bauer, Optical and radar observations of the motion of auroral arcs, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 58, 57–69, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller-Rowell, T. J., D. Rees, S. Quegan, and R. J. Moffett, Numerical simulations of the sub-auroral F-region trough, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 53, 529–540, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haerendel, G., B. U. Olipitz, S. Buchert, E. Rieger, and C. La Hoz, Optical and radar observations of auroral arcs with emphasis on small-scale structures, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 58, 71–83, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hays, P. B., A. F. Nagy, K. D. McWattiers, and J. V. Evans, Comparison of radar and optical temperature measurements in the F region, J. Geophys. Res., 75, 4881–4882, 1970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez, G., T. E. VanZandt, V. L. Peterson, and J. P. Turtle, Comparison of optical and incoherent scatter measurements of nighttime exospheric temperature at the magnetic equator, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 3271–3274, 1975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishii, M., S. Okano, E. Sagawa, S. Watari, H. Mori, I. Iwamoto, and Y. Murayama, Development of Fabry-Perot interferometers for airglow observations, Proc. NIPR Symp. Upper Atmos. Phys., 10, 97–108, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, M., The Earth’s ionosphere, Academic press, 484 pp., 1989.

  • Kosch, M. J. and E. Nielsen, Coherent radar estimates of average high-latitude ionospheric Joule heating, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 12201–12215, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kosch, M. J., A. Kohsiek, K. Schlegel, and T. Hagfors, A new Fabry-Perot interferometer experiment for neutral atmosphere studies in conjunction with the EISCAT incoherent-backscatter radar system, pp. 42, MPAE-T-010-97-20, 1997.

  • Kosch, M. J., A. Kohsiek, T. Hagfors, and K. Schlegel, Fabry-Perot interferometer measurements neutral atmospheric winds and temperatures near EISCAT—Initial results, Ann. Geophys., 1999 (submitted).

  • Larsen, M. F., I. S. Mikkelsen, J. W. Meriwether, R. Niciejewski, and K. Vickery, Simultaneous observations of neutral winds and electric fields at spaced locations in the dawn auroral oval, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 17235–17243, 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, M. F., A. B. Christensen, and C. D. Odom, observations of unstable atmospheric shear layers in the lower E region in the post-midnight auroral oval, Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 1915–1918, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCormac, F. G., T. L. Killeen, B. Nardi, and R. W. Smith, How close are ground-based Fabry-Perot thermospheric wind and temperature measurements to exospheric values? A simulation study, Planet. Space Sci., 35, 1255–1265, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mende, S. B., G. R. Swenson, S. P. Geller, R. A. Vierech, E. Murad, and C. P. Pike, Limb view spectrum of the Earth’s airglow, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 19117–19125, 1993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen, M., F. Larsen, M. C. Kelley, J. Vickrey, E. Friis-Christensen, J. Meriwether, and P. Shih, Simultaneous measurements of the thermospheric wind profile at three separate positions in the dusk auroral oval, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 4639–4648, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima, H., S. Okano, H. Fujinishi, and T. Ono, Observations of thermospheric wind velocities and temperatures by the use of a Fabry-Perot Doppler imaging system at Syowa Station, Antarctica, Appl. Opt., 34, 8382–8395, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price, G. D., R. W. Smith, and G. Hernandez, Simultaneous measurements of large vertical winds in the upper and lower thermosphere, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 53, 631–643, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees, M. H. and J. C. G. Walker, Ion and electron heating by auroral electric fields, Ann. Geophys., 24, 193–199, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, M. H., B. A. Emery, R. G. Roble, and K. Stamnes, Neutral and ion gas heating by auroral electron precipitation, J. Geophys. Res., 88, 6289–6300, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees, D., R. W. Smith, P. J. Charleton, F. G. McCormac, N. Lloyd, and Å. Steen, The generation of vertical thermospheric winds and gravity waves at auroral latitudes—I. Observations of vertical winds, Planet. Space Sci., 32, 667–684, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roble, R. G. and M. H. Rees, Time-dependent studies of the aurora: Effects of particle precipitation on the dynamic morphology of ionospheric and atmospheric properties, Planet. Space Sci., 25, 991–1010, 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahai, Y., J. A. Bittencourt, H. Takahashi, and M. Mendillo, Comparison of a low-latitude ionospheric model with observations of OI 630 nm emission and ionospheric parameters, Planet. Space Sci., 38, 1243–1250, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sato, T., Radar principles, International School on Atmospheric Radar Lecture Notes, edited by S. Fukao, Kyoto, 417 pp., Nov. 24–28, 1988.

  • Shepherd, G. G., G. Thuillier, B. H. Sollheim, Y. J. Rochon, J. Criswick, W. A. Gault, R. N. Peterson, R. H. Wiens, and S.-P. Zhang, WINDII on UARS—Status report and preliminary results, The upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere: a review of experiment and theory, Geophys. Mono., 87, 297–304, American Geophysical Union, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R. W. and G. Hernandez, Vertical winds in the thermosphere within the polar cap, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 53, 611–620, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallance-Jones, A., R. L. Gattinger, F. Creutzberg, F. R. Harris, A. G. McNamara, A. W. Yau, E. J. Llewellyn, D. Lummerzheim, M. H. Rees, I. C. McDade, and J. Margot, The Aries auroral modelling campaign: Characterization and modelling of an evening auroral arc observed from arocket and a ground-based line of meridian scanners, Planet. Space Sci., 39, 1677–1705, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walterscheid, R. L., L. R. Lyons, and K. E. Taylor, The perturbed neutral circulation in the vicinity of a symmetric stable auroral arc, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 12235–12248, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wickwar, V. B., J. W. Meriwether, Jr., P. B. Hays, and A. F. Nagy, The meridional thermospheric neutral wind measured by radar and optical techniques in the auroral region, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 10987–10998, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Communications Research Laboratory, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8795, Japan

    M. Ishii, E. Sagawa & S. Watari

  2. Solar-Terrestrial Environmental Laboratory, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    S. Oyama, S. Nozawa, R. Fujii & H. Shinagawa

Authors
  1. M. Ishii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Oyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Nozawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Fujii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. Sagawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Watari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. H. Shinagawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Ishii.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ishii, M., Oyama, S., Nozawa, S. et al. Dynamics of Neutral Wind in the polar region observed with two Fabry-Perot Interferometers. Earth Planet Sp 51, 833–844 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03353242

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03353242

Keywords