The origin of sporadic sodium layers in the mesopause region.

• Grant number: 11/09394-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Barclay Robert Clemesha
• Grantee: Yingjie Liu
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In order to understand the formation mechanism, I plan to do the following things in INPE: (1) study the fine structures of sporadic sodium layer (Nas) based on the high temporal resolution observations. The peak height variations of Nas will be investigated to clarify the cause of one of the most important characteristics of Nas - narrow/ thin; as well as the relationship between thin layers constituting Nas, which will help to elucidate the formation mechanism of Nas. The similarity and difference between Nas and atom meteor trails will also be examined. (2) study the horizontal structures of Nas to decide whether the lidar is observing the actual formation of Na atoms, which relies on the synchronous observations of steerable lidar and photometer to exclude the time lags resulting from the asynchronous observation. (3) study the characteristic parameters of Nas in different regions, to find out the relevant clues for Nas formation and decay.