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First studies of mesosphere and lower thermosphere dynamics using a multistatic specular meteor radar network over southern Patagonia
  • +3
  • Juan Federico Conte,
  • Jorge L. Chau,
  • Juan Miguel Urco,
  • Ralph Latteck,
  • Juha Vierinen,
  • Jacobo Salvador
Juan Federico Conte
Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University, Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University, Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jorge L. Chau
Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University, Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University, Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University
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Juan Miguel Urco
Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics
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Ralph Latteck
Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics (LG), Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics (LG), Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics (LG)
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Juha Vierinen
University of Tromso, University of Tromso, University of Tromso
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Jacobo Salvador
CEILAP, CEILAP, CEILAP
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Abstract

This paper presents for the first time results on winds, tides, gradients of horizontal winds, and momentum fluxes at mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) altitudes over southern Patagonia, one of the most dynamically active regions in the world. For this purpose, measurements provided by SIMONe Argentina are investigated. SIMONe Argentina is a novel multistatic specular meteor radar system that implements a SIMONe (Spread Spectrum Interferometric Multistatic meteor radar Observing Network) approach, and that has been operating since the end of September 2019. Average counts of more than 30000 meteor detections per day result in tidal estimates with statistical uncertainties of less than 1 m/s. Thanks to the multistatic configuration, horizontal and vertical gradients of the horizontal winds are obtained, as well as vertical winds free from horizontal divergence contamination. The vertical gradients of both zonal and meridional winds exhibit strong tidal signatures. Mean momentum fluxes are estimated after removing the effects of mean winds using a four-hour, eight-kilometer window in time and altitude, respectively. Reasonable statistical uncertainties of the momentum fluxes are obtained after applying a 28-day averaging. Therefore, the momentum flux estimates presented in this paper represent monthly mean values of waves with periods of four hours or less, vertical wavelengths shorter than eight kilometers, and horizontal scales less than 400 km.
Feb 2021Published in Earth and Space Science volume 8 issue 2. 10.1029/2020EA001356