Remote sensing lower thermosphere wind profiles using non-specular meteor echoes

Abstract

This article describes a new method of measuring wind velocity profiles between 93 km and 110 km altitude by tracking non-specular meteor echoes as neutral winds transport the plasma trails. This requires a large VHF radar with interferometric capability able to point nearly perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. A small data sample from the Jicamarca Radio Observatory allows the measurement of horizontal wind speeds and directions with a range resolution of a few hundred meters. These observations show speeds reaching 150 m/s and sometimes changing by as much as 100 m/s over a 6 km altitude range. At the best times, these measurements can be made with only a few minutes of data. With some refinement of the data collection and analysis techniques, this technique should produce high resolution images of lower thermospheric winds as they change in both altitude and time. Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.