First Observations From a New Meteor Radar at McMurdo Station Antarctica (77.8°S, 166.7°E)
Abstract
A new 36.17 MHz all‐sky meteor radar was installed at McMurdo Station Antarctica (77.8°S, 166.7°E) in February 2018 to provide wind measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region (70–120 km). This instrument is the highest latitude meteor radar currently in operation in the southern hemisphere; it joins two other meteor radars within the Antarctic Circle. The radar will provide long‐term continuous wind measurements of the polar region, and contribute to a greater understanding of MLT dynamics. This work describes the radar hardware and its context with other instruments in the region. The paper provides an overview of the spatial and temporal variation in meteor echoes over the observation period of March 2018 through October 2021. It also provides an analysis of the mean winds and solar tides over the first three years of operation; including a description of an observed 12 hr summertime wind oscillation consistent with previously documented observations of a westward propagating 12 hr non‐migrating tide of zonal wavenumber 1.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 28, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1029/2022rs007466
Entities
People
- John Marino
- Nicholas Rainville
- Scott Palo
Organizations
- National Science Foundation
- United States Department of Defense
- University of Colorado Boulder