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Gravity wave packets excited by a source of finite duration and size possess a broad frequency and wave number spectrum and thus span a range of temporal and spatial scales. Observing at a single location relatively close to the source, the wave components with higher frequency and larger vertical wavelength dominate at earlier times and at higher altitudes, while the lower frequency components, with shorter vertical wavelength, dominate during the latter part of the propagation. Utilizing observations from the Na lidar at Utah State University and the nearby Mesospheric Temperature Mapper at Bear Lake Observatory (41.9°N, 111.4°W), we investigate a unique case of vertical dispersion for a spectrally broad gravity wave packet in the mesopause region over Logan, Utah (41.7°N, 111.8°W), that occurred on 2 September 2011, to study the waves' evolution as it propagates upward. The lidar-observed temperature perturbation was dominated by close to a 1 h modulation at 100 km during the early hours but gradually evolved into a 1.5 h modulation during the second half of the night. The vertical wavelength also decreased simultaneously, while the vertical group and phase velocities of the packet apparently slowed, as it was approaching a critical level during the second half of the night. A two-dimensional numerical model is used to simulate the observed gravity wave processes, finding that the location of the lidar relative to the source can strongly influence which portion of the spectrum can be observed at a particular location relative to a source.

Funded by the NSF CubeSat and NASA ELaNa programs, the Dynamic Ionosphere CubeSat Experiment (DICE) mission consists of two 1.5U CubeSats which were launched into an eccentric low Earth orbit on October 28, 2011. Each identical spacecraft carries two Langmuir probes to measure ionospheric in-situ plasma densities, electric field probes to measure in-situ DC and AC electric fields, and a science grade magnetometer to measure in-situ DC and AC magnetic fields. Given the tight integration of these multiple sensors with the CubeSat platforms, each of the DICE spacecraft is effectively a "sensorsat" capable of comprehensive ionospheric diagnostics. The use of two identical sensor-sats at slightly different orbiting velocities in nearly identical orbits permits the de-convolution of spatial and temporal ambiguities in the observations of the ionosphere from a moving platform. In addition to demonstrating nanosat-based constellation science, the DICE mission is advancing a number of groundbreaking CubeSat technologies including miniaturized mechanisms and high-speed downlink communications.

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[1] It is well known that there is a strong correlation between the formation of a descending sporadic E layer (E s ) and the occurrence of large upper atmospheric zonal wind shears, most likely driven by solar thermal tides and/or gravity waves. We present new results of E s perturbation events captured between 13 and 17 July 2011 as part of a coordinated campaign using a wind/temperature Na lidar at Utah State University [41.7ºN, 111.8 W], and a Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde (CADI; Scientific Instrumentation Ltd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) and SkiYMet meteor wind radar, both located at nearby Bear Lake Observatory [41.9 N, 111.4 W]. During this period, the CADI detected strong descending E s on 2 days (195 and 197) when large modulations of the top-side mesospheric Na layer occurred in synchronism with strong oscillations in the ionosonde E region echoes. A weakening in the descending E layer echoes was observed on the other 2 days (196 and 198) coincident with a large reduction in the zonal diurnal and semidiurnal amplitudes above 95 km. Both tidal components were found to have comparable contributions to the total zonal wind shear that was critical for E s formation and its downward propagation. Further investigation indicates that the weakening tidal amplitudes and the occurrence of the E s events were also influenced by a strong quasi-two-day period modulation, suggesting significant quasi-two-day wave (QTDW) interactions with the tides. Indeed, a nonlinear, wave-wave interaction-induced 16-hour period child wave was also detected, with amplitude comparable to that of the prevailing tides. These interaction processes and their associated effects are consistent with earlier Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model studies of nonlinear interactions between the migrating tidal waves and the QTDW and were probably responsible for the observed damping of the tidal amplitudes resulting in the disruption of the E s .Citation: Yuan, T., C. Fish, J. Sojka, D. Rice, M. J. Taylor, and N. J. Mitchell (2013), Coordinated investigation of summer time mid-latitude descending E layer (E s ) perturbations using Na lidar, ionosonde, and meteor wind radar observations over Logan, Utah (41.7

Abstract. We present the development considerations and design for ground-based instrumentation that is being deployed on the East Antarctic Plateau along a 40 • magnetic meridian chain to investigate interhemispheric magnetically conjugate geomagnetic coupling and other space-weatherrelated phenomena. The stations are magnetically conjugate to geomagnetic stations along the west coast of Greenland. The autonomous adaptive low-power instrument platforms being deployed in the Antarctic are designed to operate unattended in remote locations for at least 5 years. They utilize solar power and AGM storage batteries for power, two-way Iridium satellite communication for data acquisition and program/operation modification, support fluxgate and induction magnetometers as well as a dual-frequency GPS receiver and a high-frequency (HF) radio experiment. Size and weight considerations are considered to enable deployment by a small team using small aircraft. Considerable experience has been gained in the development and deployment of remote polar instrumentation that is reflected in the present generation of instrumentation discussed here. We conclude with the lessons learned from our experience in the design, deployment and operation of remote polar instrumentation.

[1] The first sequential rocket experiment to study intermediate layers in over 30 years was launched from Wallops Island, Virginia on the night of 29-30 June 2003. Using an onsite digisonde to determine the presence of sporadic E and conditions indicating the possible presence of an intermediate layer, four rockets were launched over a 4-hour period. Three of the rockets launched with at least an hour separation; they each contained chemical release experiments and plasma impedance probes. All four payloads encountered two plasma layers on both the ascent and descent of the flights. The loweraltitude layer, located at approximately 100 km, is clearly a sporadic E layer. The higheraltitude layer, located between 120 and 130 km, displays many characteristics of an intermediate layer, but it exhibits little downward motion over time. The neutral wind profiles resulting from the chemical tracer experiment are presented here along with the vertical drift velocities derived from the wind measurements. These are compared with the electron density profiles. They show a good agreement between the convergent regions in the velocity profiles and the location of the sporadic E layers. However, agreement between the center of the convergent vertical drift regions and the location of the higheraltitude layer is poor. The inclusion in the drift calculation of electric field data from the instrumented rocket significantly improves the overall agreement between the convergent vertical drift region center and the intermediate layer center. The convergent region is within 4 km of the intermediate layer. Further, the density depletions surrounding the layers coincide with the regions of divergent drift. The relatively large discrepancy observed between the shear in the vertical drift and the location of the intermediate layer implies that other factors such as horizontal motion structure variations may be important. Thus intermediate layer formation theory and subsequent evolution is still not fully understood.

[1] There has been some debate over the years concerning the accuracy of mesospheric wind observations made using the imaging Doppler interferometer (IDI) technique. The high potential and increasing use of IDI wind data in joint studies with spaced-antenna MF and meteor radar systems make it important to quantify the IDI results. This paper presents a novel comparison of wind measurements between a dynasonde implementation of IDI and winds derived from an all-sky meteor radar system, a widely-accepted standard for such measurements. Both radars were located at the USU Bear Lake Observatory and operated almost continuously for a four-month period. The winds and tides derived from IDI were found to closely match those measured by meteor radar, not only during the day but also at night, and at all overlapping heights from 80-95 km.