Dissipation Rates of Mesospheric Stratified Turbulence From Multistatic Meteor-Radar Observations

Abstract

Stratified turbulence (ST) has been proposed as a model for the dynamics of the mesosphere-lower thermosphere (MLT) region. This theory postulates that for horizontal mesoscales (∼1–400 km), the kinetic energy of horizontal winds dissipates from large to small scales with an approximately mean constant rate. In this investigation, dissipation rates are quantified using meteor-radar observations conducted in Northern Norway. The observed seasonal variability of dissipation rates exhibits maxima during the summer and winter, and minima near the equinoxes, between 80 and 95 km altitude. The results are compared with model predictions and earlier medium frequency radar, rocket, lidar, and satellite observations of MLT turbulence. The findings suggest that multi-static meteor radar measurements of ST can provide a novel way to continuously monitor turbulent dissipation rates in the MLT region.