Non-zonal Structures of Mesosphere/lower Thermosphere Dynamics at Middle Latitudes (NOSTHEM)
DFG JA836/38-1 (2018-2021)
During NOSTHEM, longitudinal differences of mean winds, tidal parameters, and planetary and gravity waves in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT)
will be analyzed and interpreted. The influence of these differences on the representativeness of single sites for describing zonal means of winds
and wave parameters will be quantified. This will allow us to quantitatively estimate the uncertainty of mean climatology, long-term trends,
and measures of interannual variability observed at single sites. The contribution of non-zonal structures to mean circulation and its
variability will be determined. Hemispheric analyses of lower and middle atmosphere waves and circulation parameters will be used
to analyze the role of these in establishing longitudinal differences. This will then resolve the question whether there is a significant
difference between the mid-latitude MLT wind regimes in Western and Eastern Europe, and which are the underlying processes leading to these differences.
The NOSTHEM project will make use of the two very similar VHF meteor radar observations at similar latitude, but with a 36° difference
in longitude in order to specify quantitatively the influence of non-zonal structures on mean circulation, waves and tides. In order to
obtain a comprehensive picture of non-zonal structures in the MLT dynamics, the concurrent observations of winds and temperatures using
VHF radars at Collm and Kazan will be completed by numerical modeling using a circulation model of the middle atmosphere, satellite observations, and reanalyses.
Main goals of NOSTHEM are (1) a quantitative description of similarities and differences of MLT circulation parameters at two longitudes, (2)
an extrapolation of this analysis to the full hemispheric view based on satellite observations and modeling, and (3) a quantitative estimation
of the role of waves in the specific characteristic of circulation parameters at single sites. As a final goal, we shall explain longitudinal
differences through their underlying processes, and also provide guidelines for the interpretation of both mean climatology and trend
analyses made at single sites in terms of their representativeness for hemispheric dynamics.
Cooperation partner: Department of Radiophysics, Institute of Physics, Kazan Federal University, Russian Federation
Kazan (top) and Collm (bottom) 2016/2017 mean zonal winds.
Publications related to the project:
Merzlyakov, E., T. Solovyova, A. Yudakov, D. Korotyshkin, Ch. Jacobi, and F. Lilienthal, 2019: Some features of the day-to-day MLT
wind variability in winter 2017-2018
as seen with a European/Siberian meteor radar network, Adv. Space Res., in press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2019.12.018.
Jacobi, Ch., F. Lilienthal, G. Stober, D. Korotyshkin, and E. Merzlyakov, 2019: Mesosphere/lower thermosphere winds measured with nearby SkiYMET meteor radars at Collm
and Juliusruh, and comparison with Kazan winds, IEEE Xplore, Kleinheubach Conference, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8890153.
Lilienthal, F., N. Samtleben, Ch. Jacobi, and E. Yigit, 2019: Implementing a whole atmosphere gravity wave parameterization in the Middle and Upper Atmosphere Model: Preliminary Results, Rep. Inst. Meteorol. Univ. Leipzig, 57, 59-70, http://meteo.physgeo.uni-leipzig.de/de/orga/LIM_Bd_57.pdf.
Korotyshkin, D., E. Merzlyakov, Ch. Jacobi, F. Lilienthal, and Q. Wu., 2019: Longitudinal MLT
wind structure at higher mid-latitudes as seen by meteor radars at Central and Eastern Europe
(13°E/49°E), Adv. Space Res., 63, 3154-3166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2019.01.036.
Korotyshkin, D., E. Merzlyakov, Ch. Jacobi, F. Lilienthal und Q. Wu, 2018: Longitudinal MLT wind structure at higher
mid-latitudes as seen by meteor radars at Central and Eastern Europe
(13°E/49°E), VCAIS 2018, 2.-6.7.2018, Potsdam.
Korotyshkin, D.V., E.G. Merzlyakov, Ch.Jacobi und F. Lilienthal., 2018: Diurnal and
seasonal temperature oscillations near 90 km as seen with SkiYMET
meteor radars at Collm and Kazan,VCAIS 2018, 2.-6.7.2018, Potsdam.
Faculty of Physics and Earth Science
