Mesosphere/lower thermosphere wind regime parameters using a newly installed SKiYMET meteor radar at Kazan (56°N, 49°E)

Abstract

© 2018 COSPAR New meteor radar (MR) horizontal wind data obtained during 2015–2018 at Kazan (56°N, 49°E) are presented. The measurements were carried out with a state-of-the-art SKiYMET meteor radar. Monthly mean vertical profiles of zonal and meridional components of the prevailing wind speeds, also amplitudes and phases of the components of diurnal (DT) and semidiurnal tide (SDT) winds are displayed as contour plots for a mean calendar year over the four recent years and compared with distributions of these parameters provided by the previous multiyear (1986–2002) meteor radar (MR) measurements at Kazan and by the recent HWM07 empirical model. The analysis shows that the SKiYMET zonal and meridional prevailing wind speeds are generally in good agreement, sharing the same seasonal features, with the earlier MR seasonal winds. Comparisons with the HWM07 model are not favourable: eastward solstitial cells as modelled are significantly larger, >30 m/s compared to 15–20 m/s. Also, reversal lines are too variable with height, and the positions of modelled cells (positive and negative) are unlike those of either MRs at Kazan or other MLT radars. Both MR systems provide the large SDT amplitudes, approximately 30 m/s and vertical wavelengths, approximately 55 km, for both components at middle latitudes in winter. They also show the well known strong SDT September feature (heights 85–100 km, the vertical wavelength ∼55–60 km), and the weak summer SDT for 80–91 km. HWM07 shows unrealistic amplitudes and phases above 90 km by height and month: minimal amplitudes in equinoxes and no September feature. The weak DT of middle to high latitudes provide similar amplitude and phase structures from both MRs, 1986–2002 and 2015–2017: largest amplitudes (10–12 or 8–10 m/s) for the evanescent meridional tide in summer, peaking in late July; weakest (0–2, 2–4 m/s) at 80 to 92–96 km, when the tide is vertically propagating (January, February, November, December) with a vertical wavelength near 40 km. Again, HWM07 differs in amplitude and phase structures: showing peak amplitudes in equinoxes: April, 15 m/s at 88 km; October, 21 m/s at 89 km. Coupling of the MR wind parameters with the ERA5 wind parameters is studied for a case in 2016. It is shown that the prevailing winds and DT amplitudes and phases of both datasets can be simply linked together, but that the ERA5 SDT amplitudes are significantly underestimated at the top model levels of the ERA5 reanalysis project.