Neutral density variation from specular meteor echo observations spanning one solar cycle. Issue 19 (1st October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stober, G.; Matthias, V.; Brown, P.; Chau, J. L.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 41:Issue 19(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 6919
• Page End: 6925
• Publication Date: 2014-10-01
• Subjects: Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2014GL061273
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="grl52102-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p id="grl52102-para-0001">Specular meteor radars have provided essential information about the mesospheric/lower thermosphere (MLT) dynamics. The Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar has been conducting continuous meteor echo observations in a fixed, stable configuration since 2002. Here we present estimates of the neutral air density variations derived from observations of the meteor peak flux altitude. Using a simple model assuming a linear trend and a sinusoidal solar cycle we derived a trend of a decreasing neutral density of 5.8 ± 1.1% per decade at approximately 91 km altitude and an amplitude across the most recent solar cycle, the solar cycle of 2.4 ± 0.7% for solar cycle 23/24. The long‐term trend of decreasing neutral air density in the MLT is in good agreement with the model results from Akmaev et al. (2006).</p> </abstract>