The HWM90 thermospheric wind model was revised in the lower thermosphere and extended into the mesosphere and lower atmosphere to provide a single analytic model for calculating zonal and meridional wind profiles representative of the climatological average for various geophysical conditions. Local time variations in the mesosphere are derived from rocket soundings, incoherent scatter radar, MF radar, and meteor radar. Low-order spherical harmonics and Fourier series are used to describe these variations as a function of latitude and day of year with cubic spline interpolation in altitude. The model represents a smoothed compromise between the original data sources. Although agreement between various data sources is generally good, some systematic differences are noted. Overall root mean square differences between measured and model tidal components are on the order of 5 to 10 m/s.

Hedin, A. E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Meteor radiant mapping with MU radar

The radiant point mapping of meteor showers with the MU radar by using a modified mapping method originally proposed by Morton and Jones (1982) was carried out. The modification is that each meteor echo was weighted by using the beam pattern of the radar system. A preliminary result of the radiant point mapping of the Geminids meteor shower in 1989 is presented.

Watanabe, Jun-Ichi↗

NASA NTRS1990

Studies of velocity fluctuations in the lower atmosphere using the MU radar. I - Azimuthal anisotropy. II - Momentum fluxes and energy densities

Results are presented from a six-day campaign to observe velocity fluctuations in the lower atmosphere using the MU radar (Fukao et al., 1985) in Shigaraki, Japan in March, 1986. Consideration is given to the azimuthal anisotropy, the frequency spectra, the vertical profiles of energy density, and the momentum flux of the motion field. It is found that all of the observed azimuthal variations are probably caused by a gravity wave field whose parameters vary with time. The results show significant differences between the mean zonal and meridional frequency spectra and different profiles of mean energy density with height for different frequency bands and for zonal and meridional components.

Vanzandt, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Equatorial radar system

A large clear air radar with the sensitivity of an incoherent scatter radar for observing the whole equatorial atmosphere up to 1000 km altitude is now being designed in Japan. The radar, called the Equatorial Radar, will be built in Pontianak, Kalimantan Island, Indonesia (0.03 N, 109.3 E). The system is a 47 MHz monostatic Doppler radar with an active phased array configuration similar to that of the MU radar in Japan, which has been in successful operation since 1983. It will have a PA product of more than 5 x 10(9) sq. Wm (P = average transmitter power, A = effective antenna aperture) with sensitivity more than 10 times that of the MU radar. This system configuration enables pulse-to-pulse beam steering within 25 deg from the zenith. As is the case of the MU radar, a variety of sophisticated operations will be made feasible under the supervision of the radar controller. A brief description of the system configuration is presented.

Rukao, S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Wind and waves in the middle atmosphere observed with the MU radar

The VHF band MU radar at Shigaraki, Japan, has been in full operation successfully since April 1985. Dynamical features found primarily in the data obtained by the radar during a one year period from December 1985 to November 1986 are examined. These include: basic wind observations, quasi-monochromatic gravity waves generated by the jet stream or through a geostrophic adjustment process, seasonal variation of the mesoscale wind variability, the momentum flux due to gravity wave motions, and saturated gravity wave spectrum. A short discussion is added to the relationship between turbulent layers and ambient wind field in the mesosphere.

Fukao, S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

MU radar observation of a mesospheric gravity wave breaking caused by convective instability

In recent measurements of mesospheric winds with the MU radar at Shigaraki (34.9 N, 136.1 E), Japan, a couple of wind velocity data was obtained showing that a monochromatic inertia-gravity wave was propagating vertically in the mesosphere. The data show that the velocity amplitude of the wave did not increase exponentially above a height and further show that the wave form had broken down at a level. Evaluating the changes of the atmospheric stability in the wave field from the measured wind data and from the estimated wave parameters, the breakdown of the wave was shown to be connected with the occurrence of convective instability in the wave field.

Muraoka, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Spectral analysis of temperature and Brunt-Vaisala frequency fluctuations observed by radiosondes

Recent studies have revealed that vertical wave number spectra of wind velocity and temperture fluctuations in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere are fairly well explained by a saturated gravity wave spectrum. But N(2) (N:Brunt-Vaisala (BV) frequency) spectra seem to be better for testing the scaling of the vertical wave number spectra in layers with different stratifications, beause its energy density is proportional only to the background value of N(2), while that for temperature depends on both the BV frequency and the potential temperature. From temperature profiles observed in June to August 1987 over the MU Observatory, Japan, by using a radiosonde with 30 m height resolution, N(2) spectra are determined in the 2 to 8.5 km (troposphere) and 18.5 to 25 km (lower stratosphere) ranges. Although individual spectra show fairly large day-by-day variability, the slope of the median of 34 spectra agrees reasonably with the theoretical value of -1 in the wave number range of 6 x 10(-4) similar to 3 x 10(-3) (c/m). The ratio of the spectral energy between these two height regions is about equal to the ratio of N(2), consistent with the prediction of saturated gravity wave theory.

Tsuda, T.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Observations of gravity waves in the mesosphere with the MU radar

Wind motions were observed at 60 to 90 km altitudes with the MU radar during daylight hours (0800 to 1600 LT) from 13 to 31 October 1986. Quasi-monochromatic gravity waves were evident on 16 of the 19 days of observations. They were characterized by typical vertical wavelength of 5 to 15 km and intrinsic periods centered at about 9 hours. The propagation direction of the gravity waves, determined by the gravity wave dispersion relation, was mostly equatorward. The vertical wave number spectra of the horizontal components of the mesoscale wind fluctuations are explained well by saturated gravity wave theory. The frequency spectrum of vertical wind component has a slope of + 1/3, while the oblique spectra have a slope of -5/3 up to 4 x 10(-3) (c/s); these agree fairly well with model gravity wave spectra. Doppler shift effects on the frequency spectra are recognized at higher frequencies. Upward flux was determined of horizontal momentum flux induced by waves with periods from 10 min to 8 hours, and westward and northward body forces of 5.1 and 4.0 m/s/day, were estimated respectively.

Tsuda, T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Diurnal nonmigrating tides due to land-sea distribution

This paper is concerned with thermal excitation of diurnal nonmigrating tides by differential heating between land and sea. The nonmigrating tide is defined as a wave with a period corresponding to a subharmonic of a solar day. It is excited when heat sources of atmospheric tides have zonal asymmetries, and does not necessarily propagate westward with the Sun.

Tsuda, T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Mesospheric winds observed by the Kyoto meteor radar

The Kyoto meteor radar has been operated almost continuously from May 1983. By using a large amount of radar data, seasonal variations of mean winds, planetary waves and atmospheric tides can be delinated. Seasonal and latitudinal variation of tidally corrected mean winds including Kyoto observations have been examined in comparison with the CIRA 1972 model. A power spectral density of the zonal wind field for 60 days of data is formed from an autocorrelation function with a maximum time lag of 30 days. A quasi-2-day oscillation was evident in the period from June to September, and seems to be repeated in 1983 and 1983. It had large amplitudes in June and July and became weak in August; then it was again amplified in September. In summer months, the period of the wave was indicated as 2.2 days, and it became shorter in September. At Kyoto (35 deg N), the diurnal tide is the main component of atmospheric tides. The monthly mean amplitude of the eastward component of diurnal tide is plotted for the period from May 1983 to September 1984. It was clearly amplified in summer months at around 92 to 96 km altitudes. This feature was repeated in two successive years except for the maximum amplitude which exceeded 40 m/sec and 30 m/sec in 1983 and 1984, respectively.

Tsuda, T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The MU radar: Current status and first results

The MU (Middle and Upper Atmosphere) radar is a 46.5 MHz pulse modulated monostatic Doppler radar with an active phased array system. The nominal beam width is 3.6 deg, and the peak radiation power is 1 MW with maximum average power of 50 kW. A brief description of the system and the initial observational results are presented.

Kato, S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Kyoto Meteor Radar Observation in November, 1981 and May, 1982

The Kyoto meteor radar a pulsed Doppler radar and operates at 31.57 MHz ith peak power of 10 kW. An interferometer is adopted for arrival angle measurement. Height resolution is approximately 1 to 3 km depending on both azimuth and elevation angles. Data is analyzed according to an algorithm approved by GROVES. All data in height range 84 to 104 km are separated into five layers, whose altitude width is 4 km. In each layer, least square fitting is performed for ten parameters, which are amplitudes of northward/eastward mean wind and sin/cos component of diurnal/semidiurnal tide. Reliable range for each parameter is also calculated.

Tsuda, T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The MU radar now partly in operation

The MU radar (middle- and upper-atmosphere radar) of RASC (Radio Atmospheric Science Center, Kyoto University) is now partly in operation, although the facility will be completed in 1985. The active array system of the radar makes it possible to steer the radar beam as fast as in each interpulse period. Various sophisticated experiments are expected to be performed by the system. A preliminary observation was successful to elucidate atmospheric motions during Typhoon No. 5 which approached the radar site in August, 1983.

Kato, S.↗