SIMULTANEOUS 3-FREQUENCY NA LIDAR MEASUREMENTS OF RADIAL WIND AND TEMPERATURE IN THE MESOPAUSE REGION

Using a uniquely constructed acoustooptic frequency shifter to provide three different excitation frequencies, nu(a) = -652 MHz and nu(c) = 188 MHz along with nu(s) = -172 MHz at the spectral slope, the Colorad o State Na temperature lidar has been up-graded to permit simultaneous measurements of radial wind and temperature in the mesopause region. Initial observations were made at Ft. Collins, CO (40.6-degrees-N, 105 -degrees-W) for three nights in September, 1993 (a total of 20.2 h and 1,204 profiles). With a power-aperture product of 0.06 W-m2, the lida r measured RMS uncertainties with spatial and temporal resolutions of 1.5 km and 6 min are assessed to be 1.6 K and 3.1 m/s at the peak of t he Na layer. Observational results for the nights of Sep 3, 4 and 21 ( UT) that contain new thermal and dynamical information of the mesopaus e are presented to show the potential of simultaneous wind/temperature measurements.