Investigation of the mesopheric OH-Layer via FT spectroscopy and mesospheric models, OHTEMP II

• Applicant: Dr. Mathias Palm
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2008 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 100595259

The mesosphere as the link between space and atmosphere poses still many open questions to atmospheric research. Its dynamics and chemistry influence the stratosphere above the polar caps via down transport in the polar winter. In the proposed work the mesospheric OH layer above Spitsbergen (79◦N) will be studied. High spectral resolution measurements by FTS and high altitude resolution measurements by LIDAR will be combined to update and validate a deexcitation model. This is embedded into a mesospheric 2-D-model which will be enhanced and will be used to model the OH layer in the mesopause region, which is part of catalytic destruction chain for ozone. The consequences for mesospheric dynamics and chemistry will be investigated. The bandwidth and the resolution of the FT spectrometer is superior to other spectrometers used to measure OH emissions. The LIDAR provides a very good altitude resolution of the OH distribution. The combination of both measurements and the model will provide new insight into the mesopause region, especially its dynamics above the arctic region.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Justus Notholt