On the relationship between the mesospheric sodium layer and the meteoric input function

Abstract

Abstract. This study examines the relationship between the concentration of atmospheric sodium and its meteoric input function (MIF). We use the measurements from the Colorado State University (CSU) and the Andes Lidar Observatory (ALO) lidar instruments with a new numerical model that includes sodium chemistry in the mesosphere and lower-thermosphere (MLT) region. The model is based on the continuity equation to treat all sodium-bearing species and runs at a high temporal resolution. The model simulation employs data assimilation to compare the MIF inferred from the meteor radiant distribution and the MIF derived from the new sodium chemistry model. The simulation captures the seasonal variability in the sodium number density compared with lidar observations over the CSU site. However, there were discrepancies for the ALO site, which is close to the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region, indicating that it is challenging for the model to capture the observed sodium over the ALO. The CSU site had significantly more lidar observations (27 930 h) than the ALO site (1872 h). The simulation revealed that the uptake of the sodium species on meteoric smoke particles was a critical factor in determining the sodium concentration in the MLT, with the sodium removal rate by uptake found to be approximately 3 times that of the NaHCO3 dimerization. Overall, the study's findings provide valuable information on the correlation between the MIF and the sodium concentration in the MLT region, contributing to a better understanding of the complex dynamics of this region. This knowledge can inform future research and guide the development of more accurate models to enhance our comprehension of the MLT region's behavior.