High-time-resolution analysis of meridional tides in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere at mid-latitudes measured by the Falkland Islands SuperDARN radar

Chisham, Gareth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1151-5934; Kavanagh, Andrew J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7360-7039; Cobbett, Neil; Breen, Paul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0629-3807; Barnes, Tim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2422-8857. 2024 High-time-resolution analysis of meridional tides in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere at mid-latitudes measured by the Falkland Islands SuperDARN radar. Annales Geophysicae, 42 (1). 15, pp. https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-1-2024

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Abstract/Summary

Solar tides play a major role in the dynamics of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). Hence, a comprehensive understanding of these tides is important for successful modelling of the MLT region. Most ground-based observations of tidal variations in the MLT have been from meteor radar measurements with a temporal resolution of 1 h. Here, we take a different perspective on these tidal variations using high-resolution 1 min neutral-wind measurements from the Falkland Islands SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral Radar Network) radar. This analysis shows that these higher-resolution data can be used to identify higher frequency tidal components than are typically observed by meteor radars (up to a heptadiurnal component). It also shows evidence of significant power in these higher frequency components, particularly in the quaddiurnal component, which may be particularly suitable for a global analysis using high-resolution SuperDARN neutral-wind measurements. The high-resolution analysis also shows evidence of fluctuations with a frequency of 1.5 cycles per day, as well as higher-frequency fluctuations, accompanying a quasi-2 d (two day) wave. We discuss the limitations of this high-resolution analysis method and the new opportunities that it may provide. We conclude that higher-resolution SuperDARN neutral-wind measurements need to be better exploited in the future as they provide a complementary way of studying tides and waves in the MLT.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-1-2024
ISSN:	0992-7689
Date made live:	30 May 2023 13:19 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/534698

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