The Arctic MLT wind regime parameters measured at the ground-based network of MF and meteor radar stations (Andenes 69° N, Tromsø 70° N, Esrange 68° N, Dixon 73.5° N, Poker Flat 65° N and Resolute Bay 75° N) are discussed and compared with those observed in the mid-latitudes. The network of the ground-based MF and meteor radars for measuring winds in the Arctic upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere ...

Neutral air temperatures at 90 km altitude over Svalbard (78°N, 16°E) for the period 2002 to 2019 inclusive have been estimated from observations by the Nippon/Norway Svalbard Meteor Radar (NSMR). The data are presented per se and we shall not attempt to identify contributions from extra-terrestrial or anthropogenic driving. On the other hand, comparison with the corresponding period of solar UV ...

Radars used to observe meteor trails in the mesosphere deliver information on winds and temperature. Use of these radars is becoming a standard method for determining mesospheric dynamics and temperatures worldwide due to relatively low costs and ease of deployment. However, recent studies have revealed that temperatures may be overestimated in conditions such as high geomagnetic activity. The effect ...

Strong wind shears may result in dynamic instability, often characterised by the Richardson number lying between zero and 0.25. The extent to which electric-field driven ion flow may induce such neutral wind shears is examined. Further, it is proposed that, in the ionosphere, it is possible for electric fields to drive ion winds such that the collisionally induced neutral air response may be comparable ...

Medium frequency radars with multiple receivers are able to track the movement of the interference pattern on the ground from echoes from irregularities in refractive index. In particular, refractive index in the mesosphere is determined by electron density – commonly known as the ionospheric D-region. Thus using this technique it is possible to determine winds in the height regime 70-90 km, ...

In 1997, reliable operation of the EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) was achieved and a rocket launching facility at Ny Ålesund on Svalbard (79°N, 12°E) (SVALRAK) was established. On 20 November, 1977, the first instrumented payload was launched from SVALRAK. Although the payload configuration had been flown many times previously from Andøya Rocket Range on the Norwegian mainland, this presented an ...

A hypothesis is proposed wherein changes in the Earth’s magnetic field affect the migratory paths of snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis), and in particular from wintering grounds in the Russian/Ukrainian steppes to breeding grounds on Svalbard and with a typical stopover in Finnmark in northern Norway. If one were to assume ignorance of the secular movement of the magnetic north pole approximately ...

In an earlier paper (Manson et al., 1999a) tidal data (1990–1997) from six Medium Frequency Radars (MFR) were compared with the Global Scale Wave Model (GSWM, original 1995 version). The radars are located between the equator and high northern latitudes: Christmas Island (2° N), Hawaii (22° N), Urbana (40° N), London (43° N), Saskatoon (52° N) and Tromsø (70° N). Common harmonic analysis was applied, ...

The Earth’s atmosphere and the Earth’s magnetic field protects local life by shielding us against Solar particle flows, just like the sun’s magnetic field deflects cosmic particle radiation. Generally, magnetic fields can affect terrestrial life such as migrating animals. Thus, terrestrial life is connected to astronomical interrelations between different magnetic fields, particle flows and ...

Cosmic noise at 40 MHz is measured at Ny-Ålesund (79° N, 12° E) using a relative ionospheric opacity meter ("riometer"). A riometer is normally used to determine the degree to which cosmic noise is absorbed by the intervening ionosphere, giving an indication of ionisation of the atmosphere at altitudes lower than generally monitored by other instruments. The usual course is to determine a "quiet-day" ...