Long-term measurements of Stratospheric Aerosols, Stratosphere and Mesosphere Temperature, Mesospheric Sodium and Mesopause Temperature with a Lidar at São José dos Campos.

• Grant number: 16/05011-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Prado Batista
• Grantee: Paulo Prado Batista
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this research project is to continue the experimental research with the Lidar system from National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This system started to operate in 1968 taking data from stratospheric aerosols using a Ruby Laser, the only one available that time. With the development of the Laser technology a Dye laser was developed permitting that besides the stratospheric aerosols also the sodium present in a layer from 78 to 102 km altitude have been measured. Regular data started to be taken in 1972 and since then long series of data that included the measurements of Stratospheric Aerosols, the density and temperature of the stratosphere and mesosphere, the density of mesospheric sodium and more recently the temperature of the mesopause between 80 and 102 km of altitude have been obtained. The system has passed by several modifications and upgrades along the time but the last significant modification introduced with FAPESP support was the addition of a narrow and tunable Laser System as transmitter and state of the art photomultipliers as receiver. Al of this system is now at risk of stopping by the lack of components and maintenance parts that cannot be acquired with the INPE's funds. With the extension of lifetime of the Lidar we expect not only obtain an extension of the data basis, but also to make new research in parallel with optical imaging equipments and with a Lidar for simultaneous measurements of Sodium and Potassium density to be installed in cooperation with China. (AU)