Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Diurnal and annual variations of meteor rates at the arctic circle

• Main Authors: W. Singer, U. Von Zahn, J. Weiß
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Arctic; Alomar
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.405.161; http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/29/54/85/PDF/acp-4-1355-2004.pdf

Abstract. Meteors are an important source for (a) the metal atoms of the upper atmosphere metal layers and (b) for condensation nuclei, the existence of which are a prerequisite for the formation of noctilucent cloud particles in the polar mesopause region. For a better understanding of these phenomena, it would be helpful to know accurately the annual and diurnal variations of meteor rates. So far, these rates have been little studied at polar latitudes. Therefore we have used the 33 MHz meteor radar of the ALOMAR observatory at 69 ◦ N to measure the meteor rates at this location for two full annual cycles. This site, being within 3 ◦ of the Arctic circle, offers in addition an interesting capability: The axis of its antenna field points (almost) towards the North ecliptic pole once each day of the year. In this particular viewing direction, the radar monitors the meteoroid influx from (almost)