Middle-atmospheric Doppler lidar using an iodine-vapor edge filter

We present both modeled capabilities of and experimental data from a Doppler lidar for the stratosphere and the lower mesosphere that uses the edge of a molecular iodine filter in a differential measurement to provide frequency discrimination. Modeled results show a capability for wind measurements to an altitude of 55 km with 1.5-km resolution in 30 min. Experimentally, wind-vector components from 18 to 45 km are measured every 20 min. The molecular-vapor filter provides great advantages with regard to system stability, operation in less-than-optimum weather conditions, and simplicity of data analysis.     

The structure of electromagnetic wave-induced 557.7-nm emission associated with a sporadic- E event over arecibo

We report observations of electromagnetic wave-induced 557.7-nm emission in correspondence with a sporadic low-altitude plasma layer (the sporadic- E layer, E(s)). We show that the structure of 557. 7-nm emission seen for some events results from a transformation of transmitted energy by ionization clouds, compiling the patchy type E(s), and presents a projection of the sporadic- E layer structure on the emission altitude. This allows us to propose the first method for visualizing a horizontal structure of sporadic- E layers.