[1] An investigation of the tidal oscillations near the winter northern polar mesopause has been carried out at Resolute Bay, Canada (74.9°N, 94.9°W). The daily, monthly, and annual variations of the tidal field were studied using the 1995/1996 and 1996/1997 data. Ground-based measurements were obtained using a Fabry-Perot interferometer with a circle to line interferometric optical system (FPI/CLIO) and the E Region Wind Interferometer (ERWIN). The FPI/CLIO observed the Doppler winds of the OH emission near 86 km altitude. The ERWIN provided simultaneous OH (near 86 km) and OI (near 97 km) wind measurements. Monthly data were compared to the Global Scale Wave Model (GSWM) and the Forbes/Vial Solar Semidiurnal Tidal Model predictions. Analysis of the 12-hour oscillation near 86 and 97 km altitudes indicates that it is persistent and characteristic of a semidiurnal propagating tide. The semidiurnal tide was found to be highly variable in amplitude and phase from day to day. The observations presented provide a continuous and extensive data set for the winter season.INDEX TERMS: 3332
Polar cap mesospheric winds observed with a Fabry-Perot interferometer with a circle-to-line interferometer optical (FPI/CLIO) system have been compared with measurements from a field-widened Michelson interferometer optimized for E-region winds (ERWIN). Both instruments observed the Meinel OH emission emanating from the mesopause region (approximately 86 km) at Resolute Bay, Canada (74.9 degrees N, 94.9 degrees W). This is the first time, to our knowledge, that winds measured simultaneously from a ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometer and a ground-based Michelson interferometer have been compared at the same location. The FPI/CLIO and ERWIN instruments both have a capability for high temporal resolution (less than 10 min for a full scan in the four cardinal directions and the zenith). Statistical comparisons of hourly mean winds for both instruments by scatterplots show excellent agreement, indicating that the two optical techniques provide equivalent observations of mesopause winds. Small deviations in the measured wind can be ascribed to the different zenith angles used by the two instruments. The combined measurements illustrate the dominance of the 12-h wave in the mesopause winds at Resolute Bay, with additional evidence for strong gravity wave activity with much shorter periods (tens of minutes). Future operations of the two instruments will focus on observation of complementary emissions, providing a unique passive optical capability for the determination of neutral winds in the geomagnetic polar cap at various altitudes near the mesopause.
The annual meeting of those deeply involved with further developing atmospheric and related science education focused this year on teaching in the K-12 classroom and in universities WHEN:
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