Sporadic sodium and E layers observed during the summer 2002 MaCWAVE/MIDAS rocket campaign

• Published in: Annales Geophysicae
• Main Authors: B. P. Williams, C. L. Croskey, C. Y. She, J. D. Mitchell, R. A. Goldberg
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2006
• Subjects: Science; Q; Physics; QC1-999; Geophysics. Cosmic physics; QC801-809; Norway; Andøya; Alomar
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-24-1257-2006; https://doaj.org/article/089265356f21461b9e44e3ee2f5a29d6

On 5July 2002, a MaCWAVE ( M ountain and C onvective W aves A scending VE rtically) payload launched from Andøya Rocket Range, Norway, observed narrow enhanced layers of electron density that were nearly coincident with sporadic sodium layers measured by the Weber sodium lidar at the nearby ALOMAR Observatory. We investigate the formation mechanism of these layers using the neutral wind and temperature profiles measured directly by the lidar and the vertical motion deduced from the sodium mixing ratio. Through comparisons of the lidar data to the sporadic E in situ data, we find support for the concentration and downward motion of ions to an altitude where chemical models predict the rapid conversion of sodium ions to neutral sodium.