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Utah State University

Atmospheric Sciences

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Articles 151 - 159 of 159

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Rayleigh-Lidar Observations Of Mesospheric Mid-Latitude Density Climatology Above Utah State University, Eric M. Lundell, Vincent B. Wickwar Dec 2004

Rayleigh-Lidar Observations Of Mesospheric Mid-Latitude Density Climatology Above Utah State University, Eric M. Lundell, Vincent B. Wickwar

Posters

Data from Rayleigh lidars have been used extensively to derive temperatures in the mesospheric region of the atmosphere. However, these data have not been used extensively in a similar way to derive neutral densities. We report on one such mid-latitude, density climatology between 45 and ~90 km, based on nearly 600 good nights of observations carried out since 1993 at the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (ALO) at Utah State University (41.7°N 111.8°W). They produce relative density profiles that are then normalized at 45 km to an empirical model, in this case the MSISe00 model. Despite this normalization, significant differences are found …


An Earlier Lidar Observation Of A Noctilucent Cloud Above Logan, Utah (41.7°N), Joshua P. Herron, Vincent B. Wickwar Sep 2004

An Earlier Lidar Observation Of A Noctilucent Cloud Above Logan, Utah (41.7°N), Joshua P. Herron, Vincent B. Wickwar

Posters

The Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (ALO) Rayleigh-scatter lidar has been operated for 11 years on the Utah State University (USU) campus (41.7o N 111.8o W). During the morning of 22 June 1995 a noctilucent cloud (NLC) was observed with the lidar well away from the twilight periods when NLCs are visible. It lasted for approximately one hour. This observation and a second in 1999 [Wickwar et al., 2002] are very significant because they show the penetration of NLCs equatorward of 50°, which may have important implications for global change. Temperature profiles calculated at hourly intervals were at least 20 …


Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (Alo) Ten-Year Mesospheric Temperature Climatology, Joshua P. Herron, Vincent B. Wickwar Jun 2004

Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (Alo) Ten-Year Mesospheric Temperature Climatology, Joshua P. Herron, Vincent B. Wickwar

Posters

The Rayleigh-scatter lidar at the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (ALO) on the Utah State University (USU) (41.7°N, 111.8°W) campus has been in operation since 1993. The temperature database now contains over ten years of Rayleigh-scatter temperatures. A multi-year temperature climatology has been calculated from these observations along with the RMS and interannual variability. These temperatures and the climatology are currently being used in a number of mesospheric studies, including mesospheric inversion layers, tides, planetary waves, cyclical variations, trends, longitudinal comparisons, and validation studies.


Examples Of Alo Results, Vincent B. Wickwar, Joshua P. Herron, Karen M. Nelson, Troy A. Wynn, Kristina Thomas, Eric M. Lundell Jun 2004

Examples Of Alo Results, Vincent B. Wickwar, Joshua P. Herron, Karen M. Nelson, Troy A. Wynn, Kristina Thomas, Eric M. Lundell

Presentations

No abstract provided.


Retrieval And Validation Of Mesospheric Temperatures From Wind Imaging Interferometer Observations, M G. Shepherd, B Reid, S Zhang, B H. Solheim, G G. Shepherd, Vincent B. Wickwar, Joshua P. Herron Jan 2001

Retrieval And Validation Of Mesospheric Temperatures From Wind Imaging Interferometer Observations, M G. Shepherd, B Reid, S Zhang, B H. Solheim, G G. Shepherd, Vincent B. Wickwar, Joshua P. Herron

All Physics Faculty Publications

A method has been developed for the retrieval of mesospheric temperatures in the 65–90 km altitude range from satellite observations made by the Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) aboard the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Retrieved temperatures are derived from Rayleigh scattered sunlight observed in a wavelength band centered at 553 nm. Integrated line-of-sight radiance observations are inverted to tangent height volume scattering profiles, which are proportional to atmospheric density. From these, absolute temperature profiles are calculated using a technique derived from established Rayleigh lidar retrieval methods assuming that the atmosphere is in hydrostatic equilibrium and that it obeys the ideal …


Mesospheric Temperature Observationsat The Usu / Cass Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (Alo), Vincent B. Wickwar, T D. Wilkerson, M Hammond, Joshua P. Herron Jan 2001

Mesospheric Temperature Observationsat The Usu / Cass Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (Alo), Vincent B. Wickwar, T D. Wilkerson, M Hammond, Joshua P. Herron

All Physics Faculty Publications

The Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences (CASS) at Utah State University (USU) operates the ALO for studying the middle atmosphere from the stratosphere to the lower thermosphere. ALO’s mid-latitude location (41.74°N, 111.81°W, 1466 m) is very unique in that it is in the middle of an extensive set of rugged mountains, the Rocky Mountains, which are a major orographic source of gravity waves that may give rise to a longitudinal variation in the mesospheric structure. Mesospheric observations between approximately 45 and 90 km have been carried out on many clear nights with the ALO Rayleigh- scatter lidar since late …


Wind Climatology At 87 Km Above The Rocky Mountains At Bear Lake Observatory--Fabry-Perot Observations Of Oh, V. B. Wickwar, I K. Monson, C M. Vadnais, D Rees Apr 1997

Wind Climatology At 87 Km Above The Rocky Mountains At Bear Lake Observatory--Fabry-Perot Observations Of Oh, V. B. Wickwar, I K. Monson, C M. Vadnais, D Rees

Reports

This paper presents the neutral -wind climatology at approximately 87-km 53 altitude from Utah State University's Bear Lake Observatory (BLO). a mid-latitude site 54 situated in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. The winds were determined using a very 55 sensitive Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) observing the OH Me inel (6-2) PI (3) line al 56 843 nm. The climatology. determined from monthly averages of the nightly evolution of 57 the geographic meridional and zonal wind components over forty· five months, has three 58 distinct seasonal patterns: winter (November- February), summer (May-Jul y), and late 59 Slimmer (August and September). The …


Winds In The Upper Mesosphere At Mid-Latitude: First Results Using An Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer, D Rees, A Aruliah, T J. Fuller-Rowell, Vincent B. Wickwar, R J. Sica Jan 1990

Winds In The Upper Mesosphere At Mid-Latitude: First Results Using An Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer, D Rees, A Aruliah, T J. Fuller-Rowell, Vincent B. Wickwar, R J. Sica

All Physics Faculty Publications

The first stage of a new midlatitude facility at the Hardware Ranch Observatory near Bear Lake (41.93°N, 111.42°W, 1970 M elevation), for studies of the aeronomy of the middle and upper atmosphere, was completed during early September 1989. An Imaging Fabry‐Perot interferometer (IFPI) (Rees et al., 1982; Rees et al., 1990), was commissioned with a special Imaging Photon Detector (IPD) (McWhirter et al., 1982), equipped with a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) photocathode. Wind and temperature structure can be deduced from observations of the Doppler shift and Doppler broadening of airglow and auroral emissions from the mesosphere and thermosphere. The near infra‐red …


Protection Of Our Fragile Upper Atmosphere, Clayton Clark Jan 1973

Protection Of Our Fragile Upper Atmosphere, Clayton Clark

Faculty Honor Lectures

Termination of U.S. government support for the Supersonic Transport, SST, may eventually cost the United States its leadership in aviation and billions of dollars in international trade losses, yet if the world wide SST program is allowed to continue, the costs to mankind as a result of damage to environmental resources could be much higher. The decision to terminate the project was heavily based upon concern for possible changes in the properties of the upper atmosphere as a result of SST operations in that realm, with consequent danger to plant and animal life on the Earth below. Briefly, the concern …