Mesosphere Summer Echoes as Observed by VHF Radar at Kuhlungsborn (54 degrees N)

We give a summary report on the properties of Mesosphere Summer Echoes (MSE ) layers as observed throughout a complete summer season. The observations were performed with the new 53.5 MHz radar system at Kuhlungsborn (54.1 deg rees N, 11.8 degrees E) during the summer 1998. MSE are the equivalent of P olar Mesosphere Summer Echoes (PMSE) at midlatitudes. MSE events have been observed only during day-time, even though the radar was operated continuou sly. MSE were observed on 34 days for a total of 92 hours and only during s unlit conditions. The first and last MSE events of the season have been det ected on June 2 and on August 3, 1998, respectively. Most of the MSE events have had a duration of the order of one to five hours. Two long lasting ev ents have been observed on June 13 and 26 with a duration of 8 and 12 hours . On both dates. noctilucent cloud (NLC) layers were present and colocated lidars observed NLC overhead at night on June 13.