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Contact Person: Grahame Fraser at C e-mail: g.fraser@csc.canterbury.ac.nz g.fraser@csc.canterbury.ac.nz
These are the analyzed data on the neutral winds in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere during or including the LTCS-1 period, 21-25 September 1987. This condensed format is consistent with the analyzed data from other sites as well, and is prepared in order to facilitate research work. However, users need to inform the data suppliers that they are using the data in case of updates or changes, and to insure that the data are being used and interpreted properly.
The Christchurch MF radar (43.83 S, 172.68 E) in New Zealand is operated by the Physics Department of the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. It uses the partial-reflection, spaced antenna method (Fraser, 1984) and has contributed to mean wind and tidal studies (Fraser, 1968; Fraser 1989; Fraser et al 1989; Manson et al., 1989, 1990, 1991). The mean solar local time (SLT) is about 11 hours and 31 minutes ahead of Universal Time (UT) (i.e., 172.68 E / 15 deg/hr = 11.51 hours = 11 hrs 31 min). The phases are in SLT.
References for the instrument and data processing procedures are:
G. J. Fraser, Seasonal variation of southern hemisphere mid-latitude winds at altitudes of 70 - 100 km, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 30, pp 707-719, 1968.
G. J. Fraser, Partial-reflection spaced antenna wind measurements, Chapter 15 of Ground-based techniques, Handbook for middle atmosphere program, Vol 13, (Ed.) R. A. Vincent, ICSU Committee on Solar- Terrestrial Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana, 1984.
G. J. Fraser, Monthly mean winds in the mesosphere at 44S and 78S, Pure and Appl. Geophys, 130, pp 291-301, 1989.
G. J. Fraser, R. A. Vincent, A. H. Manson, C. E. Meek and R. R. Clark, Inter-annual variability of tides in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 51, pp 555-568, 1989.
A. H. Manson, C. E. Meek, H. Teitelbaum, F. Vial, R. Schminder, D. Kurschner, M. J. Smith, G. J. Fraser, and R. R. Clark, Climatologies of semi-diurnal and diurnal tides in the middle atmosphere (70-110 km) at middle latitudes (40-50), J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 51, pp 579-593, 1989.
A. H. Manson, C. E. Meek, R. Schminder, D. Kurschner, R. R. Clark, H. G. Muller, R. A. Vincent, A. Phillips, G. J. Fraser, W. Singer, and E. S. Kazimirovsky, Tidal winds from the MLT global radar network during the first LTCS campaign -- September 1987, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 52, pp 175-183, 1990.
A. H. Manson, C. E. Meek, E. Fleming, S. Chandra, R. A. Vincent, A. Phillips, S. K. Avery, G. J. Fraser, M. J. Smith, J. L. Fellous, and M. Massebeuf, Comparisons between satellite-derived gradient winds and radar-derived winds from the CIRA-86, J. Atmos. Sci., 48, pp 411-428, 1991.
Aug 31,1987-Sep 30,1987, LTCS-1 All data for this period Sep 20,1987-Sep 25,1987, LTCS-1 All data for this period
Monthly Listing for MLT Radars
-Revised 19 May 2000 by emery@ucar.edu