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Ann. Geophys., 22, 3261-3275, 2004
www.ann-geophys.net/22/3261/2004/
© European Geosciences Union 2004
A review of recent MLT studies at low latitudes
B. R. Clemesha
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Ave. dos Astronautas, 1758, São José dos Campos, 12227-010 SP, Brazil
Abstract. Recent years have shown a continuing interest in studies of the
mesosphere-lower thermosphere region at low latitudes, with more than 50 papers
dealing specifically with this area published over the past 5 years. Experimental
ground-based work has been carried out mainly in South America and the Caribbean,
India and the Pacific areas. Subjects of interest include gravity waves, tides and
planetary waves, the temperature structure of the mesopause region, with special
reference to temperature inversions and the two-level mesopause, sporadic neutral
layers and their relationship with ionized layers, the possible effects of the
micrometeoroid influx, and long-term trends in the MLT region. Experimental
techniques in use include MF, MST and meteor radar, lidar, airglow (including
satellite-borne limb-scanning measurements) and rocket-borne instruments. Airglow
imaging has shown itself to be a particularly useful technique, mainly for studying
gravity wave propagation in the MLT region. This paper will present highlights of
recent work and will discuss some of the problems which remain to be resolved.
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