The association of polar mesosphere summer echo layers with tial modes

• Published in: Annales Geophysicae
• Main Authors: P. J. S. Williams, G. O. L. Jones, J. R. Palmer, H. Rishbeth
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 1995
• Subjects: Science; Q; Physics; QC1-999; Geophysics. Cosmic physics; QC801-809; EISCAT
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-995-0454-8; https://doaj.org/article/7ec36aa2fd964d9baba455779e71e863

The occurrence of PMSEs with time of day shows a semi-diurnal variation with minima at 8 and 20 h LT. PMSE layers observed for more than 30 min show an average rate of descent of 2 km h –1 . These characteristics suggest the influence of tidal winds. When the observed steady wind and diurnal and semi-diurnal tides at EISCAT are added, the overall magnitude shows a time-variation which matches the occurrence of PMSEs, and the observed rate of descent, approximately 2 km h –1 . Atmospheric gravity waves also contribute to the velocity of the neutral wind. When the wave reinforces the background wind, the PMSEs are stronger and descend more rapidly, but when the wave-related velocity opposes the background wind the PMSE is weaker and it descends more slowly.