silverbullet satellite receiver

Comparisons of mesopause region
temperatures measured by ground-based and
satellite instruments above Svalbard (78°N)
Margit E. Dyrland1, Frank Mulligan2 and Chris Hall3
The University Centre in Svalbard
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
The University of Tromsø
May 2010
Outline
- Instruments and data
- OH(6-2) vs SABER
- Temperature-wind coupling
- Meteor wind radar (MWR) temperatures
Photo: M. Dyrland
“The Silver Bullet”
1m Ebert-Fastie
spectrometer measuring
hydroxyl airglow OH(6-2)
From October 2007 placed at the Kjell
Henriksen Observatory (KHO), before
that at Nordlysstasjonen (5 km away)
s/n issues after the move :o(
What the ”Silver Bullet” measures:
Auroral line
8446Å
“auroral
contamination”
Temperatures are derived from the intensities of the
various OH(6-2) rotational lines via a Boltzmann plot.
Meteor radar temperatures and winds
Temperatures from Nippon/Norway
Svalbard Meteor Radar (NSMR):
1) Da=λ2 ln2/16π2 τ1/2
2) Da=Kamb·T2/P

T=const ·√(P/τ1/2)
(Hall et al., 2004)
Photo: F. Sigernes
Zonal and meridional winds from:
Cross-correlation between the data
recorded on each receiver
(five of them)
(Tsutsumi et al., 1999)
In operation since 2001
Courtesy of Chris Hall
Satellite temperatures and OH altitude
TIMED SABER satellite data:
OH(4-2)/OH(5-3) temperatures and
altitude distribution
SABER profiles of
temperature and OH
volume emission rate (VER)
for 2003 and 2004
OH equivalent temperatures
found by weighting kinetic
temperatures by VER
(Mulligan and Lowe,
Ann. Geophys., 2008)
The 2003-2004 winter at mesopause level
above Svalbard - unique
OH(6-2) temperatures
SABER OH equivalent
temperatures
SABER OH VER peak
altitudes
Eastward/westward zonal
wind
Poleward/equatorward
meridional wind
Bias:
SABER-OH(6-2) = 5.6 ± 4.4 K (using Goldman et al., 1998)
SABER-OH(6-2) = 14.0 ± 11.8 K (using Langhoff et al., 1986)
Dyrland et al. (2010), JGR Atmospheres
Meridional wind vs OH(6-2) temperature
Corr.coeff R=0.71
Similar to Antarctic
measurements by Espy et
al., 2003
Meridional wind vs SABER OH peak altitude
Corr.coeff R=-0.83
Not observed before!
(to my knowledge)
Dyrland et al., JGR, 2010
NSMR(MWR) vs
SABER vs Aura MLS
vs OH(6-2)
Four completely
independent
temperature data sets,
from instruments with
very different field of
views.
NSMR (MWR) clearly
overestimates the
temperature in the initial
“guess”..
Calibration/adjustment of MWR temperatures: SABER or
Aura MLS as input?
Aura MLS and SABER at Longyearbyen
110
100
90
Altitude (km)
80
70
60
50
40
SABER 2005 d032 Lat=80.956 Long=20.511
Time=4.308865 UT
Aura 2005 d032 Lat=80.655 Long=23.844
Time=4.150042
30
20
10
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
Temperature (K)
Pro SABER:
- Much better vertical resolution
Pro Aura MLS:
- Better annual coverage
 We chose Aura MLS
Original time series before adjustment
Coinciding daily
averages of NSMR and
Aura MLS temperatures
Monthly mean diurnal variation
in MWR temperatures
Bias (tidal perturbation?)
as function of month
Second step: Adjustment of NSMR temperatures
according to bias
Comparisons with models
etc..
Dyrland et al., in press Radio
Sci., 2010
SIOS – Svalbard Integradted Arctic Earth
Observing System
Integrate the studies of geophysical, chemical
and biological processes from all research and
monitoring platforms.
This will be done through:
Organize all infrastructure and all research and
monitoring activities into four observation
platforms being land-based, sea-based,
glacier/ice-based and space/air-based
Assess the present infrastructure and activities
to identify gaps and weaknesses in the system.
Invest in additional infrastructure and activities
to close these gaps
Establish a Knowledge Centre in Longyearbyen for data assessment, storage and delivery,
education and outreach, cooperative efforts, and input to Earth System modeling
Take actions to coordinate the SIOS initiative with complementary ESFRI efforts as
well as other Earth Observation Systems and related modelling efforts
Preparatory phase 2008-2010:
Gap analysis and technical design studies of all observational platforms
under the Norwegian national infrastructure roadmap.
Designing and organizing the Knowledge Centre, setting up the board
and recruiting management.
Construction phase 2010->:
Implementing new instruments and validation programs, based on gap analysis.
Establishing integrated database services.
Recruiting personnel and starting up the Knowledge Centre
Operation 2012->:
Full operation of the European Hub and Node in SAON.
Thank you for your attention!
Photo: M. Dyrland