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DROPPS: A study of the polar summer mesosphere with rocket, radar and lidar
Author(s) -
Goldberg R. A.,
Pfaff R. F.,
Holzworth R. H.,
Schmidlin F. J.,
Voss H. D.,
Tuzzolino A. J.,
Croskey C. L.,
Mitchell J. D.,
Friedrich M.,
Murtagh D.,
Witt G.,
Gumbel J.,
von Zahn U.,
Singer W.,
Hoppe U.P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012415
Subject(s) - lidar , mesosphere , radar , environmental science , polar , rocket (weapon) , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , solstice , remote sensing , geology , physics , geodesy , stratosphere , aerospace engineering , latitude , astronomy , engineering
DROPPS (The D istribution and R ole of P articles in the P olar S ummer M esosphere) was a highly coordinated international study conducted in July, 1999 from the Norwegian rocket range (Andøya, Norway). Two sequences of rockets were launched. Each included one NASA DROPPS payload, containing instruments to measure the electrodynamic and optical properties of dust/aerosol layers, accompanied by European payloads (MIDAS, Mini‐MIDAS, and/or Mini‐DUSTY) to study the same structures in a complementary manner. Meteorological rockets provided winds and temperature. ALOMAR lidars and radars (located adjacent to the launch site) monitored the mesosphere for noctilucent clouds (NLCs) and polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSEs), respectively. EISCAT radars provided PMSE and related information at a remote site (Tromsø, Norway). Sequence 1 (5–6 July) was launched into a strong PMSE with a weak NLC present; sequence 2 (14 July) occurred during a strong NLC with no PMSE evident. Here we describe program details along with preliminary results.