Abstract
Abstract. In this paper we present an overview of measurements conducted during the WADIS-2 rocket campaign. We investigate the effect of small-scale processes like gravity waves and turbulence on the distribution of atomic oxygen and other species in the mesosphere–lower thermosphere (MLT) region. Our analysis suggests that density fluctuations of atomic oxygen are coupled to fluctuations of other constituents, i.e., plasma and neutrals. Our measurements show that all measured quantities, including winds, densities, and temperatures, reveal signatures of both waves and turbulence. We show observations of gravity wave saturation and breakdown together with simultaneous measurements of generated turbulence. Atomic oxygen inside turbulence layers shows two different spectral behaviors, which might imply a change in its diffusion properties.
Highlights
The mesosphere–lower thermosphere (MLT) region is host to phenomena that are connected to dynamic and chemical processes that are still not fully understood
One of the most important trace constituents in the MLT is atomic oxygen (O), which plays an essential role in the chemistry and energy budget of the mesopause region (e.g., Mlynczak and Solomon, 1993)
The WADIS-2 rocket launch was under conditions of the confirmed absence of polar mesospheric winter echoes, or PMWEs
Summary
The mesosphere–lower thermosphere (MLT) region is host to phenomena that are connected to dynamic and chemical processes that are still not fully understood. One of the most important trace constituents in the MLT is atomic oxygen (O), which plays an essential role in the chemistry and energy budget of the mesopause region (e.g., Mlynczak and Solomon, 1993). It is the major reactive trace constituent. MAARSY did not observe any echoes during the night of the rocket launch. Some short-living echoes were observed around noon and in the late evening but not in the morning when the WADIS-2 rocket was launched. We recall here that this sounding rocket mission did not aim to study PMWEs, so the presence of PMWEs was not a criterion for the rocket launch
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