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Atmosphere
Special Issues
Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere
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Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Upper Atmosphere".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 March 2023) | Viewed by 16636

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Chen Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Space Physics, School of Electronic Information, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Interests: ionospheric physics; mesosphere and low thermosphere; radio wave propagation and application; atmospheric measurement technique
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhibin Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Space Science and Applied Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
Interests: lidar technology development; mesosphere and low thermosphere; ionosphere–thermosphere coupling; metal layers; atmospheric measurement technique
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The objective of this Special Issue is to assemble a coherent set of papers that provide recent advances in the field of upper atmosphere (i.e., the mesosphere and low thermosphere (MLT)). The MLT region is defined as the region of the atmosphere between about 60 and 110 km in altitude. The MLT is dominated by the effects of atmospheric waves and oscillations with different scales, including ENSO, QBO, planetary waves, tides, and gravity waves, which originate from  the lower atmosphere. Solar activity and geomagnetic disturbance also play important roles in the variability of the MLT region.

Specific phenomena in this region are of particular interest. Sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is a large-scale meteorological event in the winter polar stratosphere, and the connection between SSW and MLT variability is well established. Sporadic E layers, known as Es, are patches of enhanced electron density that mostly appear at altitudes from 90 to 120 km. Middle‐ and low‐latitude Es formation is attributed to meteor debris and neutral wind dynamics in the MLT region, which is an important transition zone of the coupling between ionosphere and low-atmosphere polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE), which are radar echoes from the MLT atmosphere between 80 and 90 km altitude that form in layers typically extending only a few kilometers in altitude.

In this region, radars, lidars, both ground-based and satellite-based optical instruments, are important observational tools. Observational techniques and instrumentation are important to our understanding of physical processes and modeling of the MLT region.

Authors are encouraged to submit original papers that include but not limited to topics of observations, modeling, instrumentation, etc. Review papers and technical notes are also welcome. For all the papers submitted to this Special Issue, an Editorial Board member from Atmosphere who do not have conflict of interest with Wuhan University or Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen will be invited to make decisions to avoid any conflict of interest.

Prof. Dr. Chen Zhou
Dr. Zhibin Yu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sporadic E layer
  • metallic layer
  • atmospheric waves
  • polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE)
  • sudden stratospheric warming (SSW)
  • atmospheric–ionospheric coupling

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 162 KiB  
Editorial
Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere
by Chen Zhou and Zhibin Yu
Atmosphere 2023, 14(9), 1456; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos14091456 - 19 Sep 2023
Viewed by 701
Abstract
The mesosphere and low thermosphere (MLT) region is defined as the region of the atmosphere between approximately 60 and 110 km in height [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 3329 KiB  
Article
Artificial Periodic Irregularities and Temperature of the Lower Thermosphere
by Nataliya V. Bakhmetieva, Gennadiy I. Grigoriev, Ilia N. Zhemyakov and Elena E. Kalinina
Atmosphere 2023, 14(5), 846; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos14050846 - 09 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1152
Abstract
The results of temperature measurements in the lower thermosphere at altitudes of 90–130 km by the method of resonant scattering of radio waves on artificial periodic inhomogeneities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma are presented. These inhomogeneities are created when the ionosphere is exposed [...] Read more.
The results of temperature measurements in the lower thermosphere at altitudes of 90–130 km by the method of resonant scattering of radio waves on artificial periodic inhomogeneities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma are presented. These inhomogeneities are created when the ionosphere is exposed to powerful HF radio emission. The temperature profile was obtained from measurements of the relaxation time of the API scattered signal. The data processes and the method of the temperature determination are given in detail. The height and temporal resolutions of the API technique are of the order of 1 km and 15 s, respectively, making it possible to study both fast and slow processes in the lower thermosphere. Large temperature variability at altitudes of 90–130 km during the day and from day to day, due to the propagation of atmospheric waves, has been confirmed. The temporal variations of the atmospheric parameters take place with periods from 15 min to some hours. There are often height profiles of the temperature with the wave-like variations and with the vertical scale of about 4–10 km. The irregular temperature profiles were observed above 100 km. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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18 pages, 5256 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Electron Density Disturbance in the Lower Ionosphere Caused by Thundercloud Electrostatic Fields
by Xubo Yang, Yi Liu, Youzhi Lin, Chen Zhou and Zhengyu Zhao
Atmosphere 2023, 14(3), 444; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos14030444 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1363
Abstract
In this study, we simulated the electron density disturbance at night in the bottom of the ionosphere caused by the electrostatic field in a thundercloud. The simulation was conducted using the charge of the thundercloud as the source, by incorporating a more up-to-date [...] Read more.
In this study, we simulated the electron density disturbance at night in the bottom of the ionosphere caused by the electrostatic field in a thundercloud. The simulation was conducted using the charge of the thundercloud as the source, by incorporating a more up-to-date conductivity profile, and using the ion chemistry model for the lower ionosphere. The results revealed that a thundercloud charge of 30–100 C can cause a disturbance in the electron density in the lower ionosphere, decreasing to 40% of the original value or increasing to 160% of the original value. The electron density disturbance occurs mainly below an altitude of 80 km, and its peak is located at an altitude of 70 km, with a regional horizontal radius of about 50–75 km. The simulation results of this study improve the theory of Salem et al and extend the original one-dimensional model to three-dimensional space. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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14 pages, 4063 KiB  
Article
Physical Model of D-Region Ionosphere and Preliminary Comparison with IRI and Data of MF Radar at Kunming
by Mengyan Zhu, Tong Xu, Shuji Sun, Chen Zhou, Yanli Hu, Shucan Ge, Na Li, Zhongxin Deng, Yuqiang Zhang and Xiaolei Liu
Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 235; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos14020235 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1627
Abstract
Based on the ion continuity equation solved under chemical equilibrium, a physical model of the D-region ionosphere (60–90 km) is established. The model involves 145 ion chemical reactions and includes 23 kinds of positive ions, 11 kinds of negative ions, and electrons. The [...] Read more.
Based on the ion continuity equation solved under chemical equilibrium, a physical model of the D-region ionosphere (60–90 km) is established. The model involves 145 ion chemical reactions and includes 23 kinds of positive ions, 11 kinds of negative ions, and electrons. The simulation results show that molecular ions, such as NO+, NO+(H2O)n, H+(H2O)n, CO3−, and O3−, are the main components of ions in the D-region. The diurnal change of electron density at low latitudes is more obvious than at high latitudes. Preliminary comparisons with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model and observed data of Medium Frequency (MF) radar at Kunming Radio Wave Observation Station show that the model is able to describe the basic features of D-region parameters. In addition, the results show that the minimum height of the D-region lower boundary in the low latitude is approximately 65 ± 1 km, and the height during the daytime is strongly correlated with local time. Furthermore, the results also reveal that the asymmetry of electron density is observed, with higher electron density during sunset than during sunrise at 75–85 km altitude. These above results are helpful for better understanding the variation of the D-region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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14 pages, 4877 KiB  
Article
C-Structures in Mesospheric Na and K Layers and Their Relations with Dynamical and Convective Instabilities
by Vania Fatima Andrioli, Jiyao Xu, Paulo Prado Batista, Laysa C. A. Resende, Alexandre A. Pimenta, Maria Paulete Martins, Siomel Savio, Cristiane Godoy Targon, Guotao Yang, Jing Jiao, Chi Wang and Zhengkuan Liu
Atmosphere 2022, 13(11), 1867; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13111867 - 09 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 992
Abstract
We analyzed the C-structures in the mesospheric metal layers. We used two datasets: one from a narrow band Sodium (Na) Density and Temperature LIDAR and the other from a high-resolution dual band Na and Potassium (K) LIDAR, both operated at São José dos [...] Read more.
We analyzed the C-structures in the mesospheric metal layers. We used two datasets: one from a narrow band Sodium (Na) Density and Temperature LIDAR and the other from a high-resolution dual band Na and Potassium (K) LIDAR, both operated at São José dos Campos, Brazil (23° S, 46° W). We also investigated the Es layer occurrence and wind shear influences forming these structures. We found three C-type events over 82 analyzed nights in the first data set. They all showed lower temperatures inside C-structures compared to the borders. The squared Brunt-Väissälä frequency analyses showed positive values in the region of C-structures. In two out of three cases, dynamical instability was present (Ri < 0.25). We compared these results with the nine simultaneous C-type events identified in the 185 nights from the second data set. They showed height and time simultaneity correspondence as observed in the Na and K layers. Our results showed a low correlation between Es occurrence and C-structures. Additionally, strong wind shears in the altitude and time where C-structures appeared were always present. The advection of a metal cloud to the LIDAR station and a wind distortion seems to be the plausible mechanism that can explain all the observations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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16 pages, 4625 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Sporadic-E Layer Behavior in Different American Stations during the Days around the September 2017 Geomagnetic Storm
by Laysa C. A. Resende, Yajun Zhu, Christina Arras, Clezio M. Denardini, Sony S. Chen, Juliano Moro, Diego Barros, Ronan A. J. Chagas, Lígia A. Da Silva, Vânia F. Andrioli, José P. Marchezi, Alexander J. Carrasco, Chi Wang, Hui Li and Zhengkuan Liu
Atmosphere 2022, 13(10), 1714; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13101714 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1510
Abstract
The development of sporadic-E (Es) layers over five Digisonde stations in the American sector is analyzed. This work aims to investigate the dynamic of such layers during the days around the geomagnetic storm that occurred on 8 September 2017. Therefore, a numerical model [...] Read more.
The development of sporadic-E (Es) layers over five Digisonde stations in the American sector is analyzed. This work aims to investigate the dynamic of such layers during the days around the geomagnetic storm that occurred on 8 September 2017. Therefore, a numerical model (MIRE) and Radio Occultation (RO) technique are used to analyze the E layer dynamics. The results show a downward movement in low-middle latitudes due to the wind components that had no significant changes before, during, and after the geomagnetic storm. In fact, our data and simulations showed weak Es layers over Boulder, Cachoeira Paulista, and Santa Maria, even though the winds were not low. However, the RO data show the terdiurnal and quarterdiurnal influence in the Es layer formation, which can explain this behavior. In addition, we observed an atypical Es layer type, slant Es layer (Ess), during the main phase of the magnetic storm over Boulder. The possible cause of the Ess layers was gravity waves. Another interesting point is the spreading Es layer occurrence associated with the Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability (KHI). Finally, it is confirmed that the disturbed electric field only influenced the Es layer dynamics in regions near the magnetic equator. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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13 pages, 14415 KiB  
Article
System of Imaging Photometers for Upper Atmospheric Phenomena Study in the Arctic Region
by Pavel Klimov, Sergei Sharakin, Alexander Belov, Boris Kozelov, Alexei Murashov, Roman Saraev, Daniil Trofimov, Alexei Roldugin and Vladimir Lubchich
Atmosphere 2022, 13(10), 1572; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13101572 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1487
Abstract
A Pulsating Aurora Imaging Photometers Stereoscopic System (PAIPS) is suggested and described in the paper. The system is based on two lens telescopes with a matrix of multianode photomultiplier tubes as photodetectors placed in two high latitude observatories of the Polar Geophysical Institute. [...] Read more.
A Pulsating Aurora Imaging Photometers Stereoscopic System (PAIPS) is suggested and described in the paper. The system is based on two lens telescopes with a matrix of multianode photomultiplier tubes as photodetectors placed in two high latitude observatories of the Polar Geophysical Institute. Telescopes provide simultaneous observations of a large volume of the atmosphere at altitudes in the range 50–100 km with high temporal resolution (up to 2.5 μs) and a spatial resolution of about 2 km. This is a novel system for pulsating aurora study aimed to determine the energies of precipitating electrons responsible for the pulsating aurora occurrence. The system can be used for other atmospheric phenomena studies: meteors, transient luminous events, etc. One telescope has been operating since September 2021 and has measured a variety of optical phenomena. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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18 pages, 6478 KiB  
Article
Diurnal and Seasonal Variation of High-Frequency Gravity Waves at Mohe and Wuhan
by Yiyun Wu, Qiong Tang, Zhou Chen, Yi Liu and Chen Zhou
Atmosphere 2022, 13(7), 1069; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13071069 - 06 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1341
Abstract
Using the meteor radar data at the Mohe (53.5° N, 122.3° E) and Wuhan (30.5° N, 114.2° E) regions over China, this paper conducts a study on the diurnal and seasonal variation of high-frequency (within 2 h) gravity waves (GWs) activity in the [...] Read more.
Using the meteor radar data at the Mohe (53.5° N, 122.3° E) and Wuhan (30.5° N, 114.2° E) regions over China, this paper conducts a study on the diurnal and seasonal variation of high-frequency (within 2 h) gravity waves (GWs) activity in the mesosphere and the lower thermosphere (MLT). On the basis of the composite day analysis and Hocking’s technique, the variance and momentum flux of the high-frequency GWs are derived from the radial velocities of individual meteor trails. Spectral results demonstrate that the high-frequency GWs activity shows 12 and 24 h periodicity, which may be due to the tidal modulation on the high-frequency GWs. The spectra of the variance and momentum flux also show 6 and 8 h periodicity. In addition to the diurnal variation, the high-frequency GWs activity shows the annual and semiannual oscillations. Additionally, the quasi-4-month oscillation is found at Mohe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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12 pages, 2577 KiB  
Article
Unusual Enhancement of Midlatitude Sporadic-E Layers in Response to a Minor Geomagnetic Storm
by Qiong Tang, Haiyang Sun, Zhitao Du, Jiaqi Zhao, Yi Liu, Zhengyu Zhao and Xueshang Feng
Atmosphere 2022, 13(5), 816; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13050816 - 16 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1683
Abstract
This study investigates the variations of middle and low latitude sporadic-E (Es) layers in response to a geomagnetic storm. Es layers are observed by five ionosondes located in the Eastern Asian sector. The critical frequencies of Es layers (foEs) at six stations increased [...] Read more.
This study investigates the variations of middle and low latitude sporadic-E (Es) layers in response to a geomagnetic storm. Es layers are observed by five ionosondes located in the Eastern Asian sector. The critical frequencies of Es layers (foEs) at six stations increased in sequence from high latitude stations to low latitude stations after IMF/Bz turning southward. Lomb–Scargle analysis shows the amplification of semidiurnal oscillation amplitude in the vertical height of Es layers during geomagnetic disturbance. Modeling results of the NCAR Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) show the enhancement of the wind field in the mesosphere and the lower thermosphere (MLT) region. Our study provides evidence that the enhanced wind field in the MLT region during the storm period could result in the enhancement of Es layers at middle and low latitude. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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10 pages, 19952 KiB  
Article
Atomic Oxygen SAO, AO and QBO in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Based on Measurements from SABER on TIMED during 2002–2019
by Shengyang Gu, Han Zhao, Yafei Wei, Dong Wang and Xiankang Dou
Atmosphere 2022, 13(4), 517; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13040517 - 23 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1675
Abstract
Using version 1.0 of TIMED/SABER nighttime O(3P) density data in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) retrieved from 2.0 and 1.6 μm radiances, we conducted a study on the semiannual oscillation (SAO), annual oscillation (AO) and quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the atomic oxygen [...] Read more.
Using version 1.0 of TIMED/SABER nighttime O(3P) density data in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) retrieved from 2.0 and 1.6 μm radiances, we conducted a study on the semiannual oscillation (SAO), annual oscillation (AO) and quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the atomic oxygen volume mixing ratio at 96 km, from 40° S to 40° N, for 2002–2019. We first analyzed the altitude profiles of the atomic oxygen volume mixing ratio and kinetic temperature, and chose to study the daily average of the atomic oxygen volume mixing ratio at 96 km. For the analysis of SAO and AO, we fitted two sinusoidal functions with periods of 6 and 12 months to the daily mean atomic oxygen volume mixing ratio to obtain the annual and semiannual amplitude. The SAO amplitudes had two peaks of 1.68 × 10−3 and 1.63 × 10-3 at about 25° S and 25° N, and displayed a clear hemispheric symmetry. The AO amplitude increased with the latitude and showed distinct minima (valleys) of 3.36 × 10−4 around the equator, as well as a clear hemispheric asymmetry. The correlation coefficient between the atomic oxygen volume mixing ratio QBO with equatorial stratospheric QBO was higher in the tropics than the mid latitudes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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Review

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27 pages, 10737 KiB  
Review
Study of the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere by the Method of Creating Artificial Periodic Irregularities of the Ionospheric Plasma
by Nataliya V. Bakhmetieva and Gennadiy I. Grigoriev
Atmosphere 2022, 13(9), 1346; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13091346 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1762
Abstract
This article presented a brief review of studies of the Earth’s ionosphere at the heights of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere by a method based on the creation of artificial periodic inhomogeneities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma by high-frequency radiation from powerful thermal [...] Read more.
This article presented a brief review of studies of the Earth’s ionosphere at the heights of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere by a method based on the creation of artificial periodic inhomogeneities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma by high-frequency radiation from powerful thermal installations. APIs are created by a standing wave due to the interference between upward-propagating radio waves and those reflected from the ionosphere. API studies of the ionosphere were based on Bragg scattering of probing impulse signals from an artificial periodic structure. The method makes it possible to measure the parameters of the neutral and ionized components of the Earth’s atmosphere. Note that, despite the fact that the API method assumes an artificial perturbation of the ionospheric plasma, the parameters of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere are determined at the stage of inhomogeneity relaxation and characterize the undisturbed medium. To date, periodic inhomogeneities have been observed at the heating points of Zimenki and Sura ionospheric heating facility (SURA, Vasilsursk, Russia), Gissar (Tajikistan), Arecibo (Puerto Rico, USA), High Power Auroral Stimulation Observatory (HIPAS) and High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP, Gakona, AK, USA), and European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT, Tromso, Norway). Most of the API studies of the ionosphere were carried out at the SURA mid-latitude heating facility (56.1° N; 46.1° E). The review presented the main results of determining the parameters of the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere at altitudes of 60–120 km and studies of the atmosphere during sunrise and sunset events and solar eclipses. In fact, the review is far from a complete illustration of the possibilities of using the API method to study the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere)
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