Mesospheric and lower thermospheric winds at middle Europe and Northern Scandinavia during the Leonid 1999 meteor storm

Werner Singer, Peter Hoffmann, Nicholas J. Mitchell, Christoph Jacobi

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5 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

We report observations of winds in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere during the Leonid meteor storm of November 17/18, 1999. The observations were obtained at five radar sites in Middle Europe and Northern Scandinavia using meteor radars in Germany and Northern Sweden, Medium Frequency (MF) radars in Germany and Northern Norway and Low Frequency (LF) wind measurements in Germany. We present hourly means of zonal and meridional winds covering the altitude range 82 km to 106 km. At mid-latitudes (52° - 54°N) we observe strong eastward and southward directed winds during the storm phase of the Leonid shower in the early morning hours of November 18 whereas eastward and northward directed winds are dominating at high latitudes (67° - 69°N). Strong semidiurnal and weaker diurnal tidal oscillations are observed in the wind field at both latitudes at altitudes above 90 km.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)565-574
Number of pages10
JournalEarth, Moon and Planets
Volume82-83
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 1998

Keywords

  • Leonids 1999
  • Lower thermosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Meteors
  • Winds

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics

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