Preface ''Structure, composition, and dynamics of the middle atmosphere and lower ionosphere during a major meteor shower''

U.-P Hoppe,M Rapp

doi:10.5194/angeo-31-1829-2013

Abstract

With this special issue we document our current understanding of the impact of a major meteor shower on the structure, composition and dynamics of the middle atmosphere and lower ionosphere. The results centre on, but are not limited to, a recent international campaign with sounding rockets, ground-based and satellite observations: the ECOMA 2010 Geminids campaign. This campaign was conducted in December 2010 from Andoya Rocket Range (69� N, 16� E). Three instrumented payloads were launched to investigate the evolution of meteoric smoke particles’ distribution, properties and abundance as well as their effects on the middle atmosphere: one shortly before the onset of the shower, one at the peak of shower activity on 13 December, and one after shower activity had ceased. All scientific payloads included instruments to probe the neutral atmosphere (density, temperature, turbulence, trace species like meteor smoke, NO, O) and the lower ionosphere (electrons, positive ions, charged aerosols).

Highlights

The ECOMA instrument with its photoionization lamp had an interesting and useful side effect: the Xe flashlamp charges meteoric smoke particles by ejecting electrons through the external photo effect (the intended effect), and photoionizes some atmospheric trace molecules, i.e. primarily NO
The results by Dunker et al (2013) show in detail the surprising result mentioned above, that the steady decrease of sporadic meteors during November and December has more significant bearing on the amount of meteoric material in the upper mesosphere than the Geminids meteor shower. Comparing their own results with previously published results from the Geminids time period of previous years, these authors suggest that the amount of Na in shower meteors, or in sporadic meteors during this time period, may have decreased over the last four decades
The multi-pin probe gives much better height resolution and the results are independent of any payload charging, but perhaps troubled by local ram and wake effects in electron density

Summary

Introduction

The ECOMA instrument with its photoionization lamp had an interesting and useful side effect: the Xe flashlamp charges meteoric smoke particles by ejecting electrons through the external photo effect (the intended effect), and photoionizes some atmospheric trace molecules, i.e. primarily NO. The results by Dunker et al (2013) show in detail the surprising result mentioned above, that the steady decrease of sporadic meteors during November and December has more significant bearing on the amount of meteoric material in the upper mesosphere than the Geminids meteor shower.

Results

Conclusion