The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners.
As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.
i
First Lidar Profiling of Meteoric Ca+ Ion Transport From ∼80 to 300 km in the Midlatitude Nighttime Ionosphere
-
2022
-
-
Source: Geophysical Research Letters, 49(18)
[PDF-1.53 MB]
Details:
-
Journal Title:Geophysical Research Letters
-
Personal Author:
-
NOAA Program & Office:
-
Description:We report a world record of lidar profiling of metallic Ca+ ions up to 300 km in the midlatitude nighttime ionosphere during geomagnetic quiet time. Ca+ measurements (∼80–300 km) were made over Beijing (40.42°N, 116.02°E) with an Optical-Parametric-Oscillator-based lidar from March 2020 through June 2021. Main Ca+ layers (80–100 km) persist through all nights, and high-density sporadic Ca+ layers (∼100–120 km) frequently occur in summer. Thermosphere-ionosphere Ca+ (TICa+) layers (∼110–300 km) are likely formed via Ca+ uplifting from these sporadic layers. The lidar observations capture the complete evolution of TICa+ layers from onset to ending, revealing intriguing features. Concurrent ionosonde measurements show strong sporadic E layers developed before TICa+ and spread F onset. Neutral winds can partially account for observed vertical transport but enhanced electric fields are required to explain the results. Such lidar observations promise new insights into E- and F-region coupling and plasma inhomogeneities.
-
Keywords:
-
Source:Geophysical Research Letters, 49(18)
-
DOI:
-
ISSN:0094-8276;1944-8007;
-
Format:
-
Publisher:
-
Document Type:
-
License:
-
Rights Information:CC BY
-
Compliance:Submitted
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
