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Ann. Geophys., 19, 1007-1017, 2001
www.ann-geophys.net/19/1007/2001/
© European Geosciences Union 2001
Mesospheric turbulent velocity estimation using the Buckland Park MF radar
D. A. Holdsworth1, R. A. Vincent2, and I. M. Reid2
1Atmospheric Radar Systems, 1/26 Stirling St, Thebarton, Australia
2Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia
Abstract. This paper investigates
turbulent velocity estimation using the full correlation analysis (FCA) of
spaced antenna (SA) data, and its application to the routine FCA observations
of the Buckland Park MF (BPMF) radar. The effects of transmitter beamwidths are
investigated, confirming the suggestions of previous authors that wide transmit
beam widths lead to an overestimation of the turbulent velocity. The annual
variation of the turbulent velocity is investigated, revealing an increase in
turbulent velocity with height, and equinoctal minima and solstice maxima
observed below 80 km. Investigations of the turbulent velocities about the
March diurnal tide maximum reveals a diurnal variation in phase with the zonal
velocity. Harmonic analysis reveals this relationship exists between February
and September. Descending power layers are also observed during this period. A
number of mechanisms are proposed to describe these observations.
Key words. Meteorology and
atmospheric dynamics (middle atmosphere dynamics; instruments and techniques)
– Radio science (instruments and techniques)
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