ISSN:
1573-0794
Keywords:
lower thermosphere
;
Leonids 1999
;
mesosphere
;
meteors
;
neutral atom debris layer
;
Potassium
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract We have performed an experiment to study the impact of the 1999 Leonid meteor storm on the upper atmosphere potassium layer. For the experiment, we used a ground-based K-lidar located at the Observatorio del Teide on the island of Tenerife (28°N, 17°W). As is now known from external sources, the activity of the storm exhibited a sharp peak of activity on November 18, 1999 close to 02:05 UT with a full width at half maximum of only 45 min. Due to unfavorable weather conditions at our lidar site, we could not observe the behavior of the K layer immediately before or during the meteor storm. However, about 1 h past the peak of the Leonid storm, the clouds above the site started to show small holes. Hence, between 03:24 and 05:22 UT, we were able to perform lidar soundings of the K layer above our site. From those we can conclude that the 1999 Leonid meteor storm has not led to an outstanding enhancement of the upper atmosphere potassium layer.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1017085305760
Permalink