Rayleigh and Rayleigh Doppler lidars for the observations of the Arctic middle atmosphere

A Rayleigh lidar (laser radar) system was developed and is now working well for temperature observations of the middle atmosphere at Poker Flat Resear ch Range near Fairbanks, Alaska (65.1 N, 147.5 W). A comparison of lidar da ta and balloon sonde data showed good agreement in overlapped altitudes. Th e atmospheric fluctuations are detected in the temperature profiles:obtaine d by the Rayleigh lidar and these are useful for: the study of gravity wave s. A Rayleigh Doppler lidar for wind measurements of the middle atmosphere is under the phase of development. The expected accuracy in measurements of horizontal winds up to an altitude of 60 km is smaller than 6 m/s in 2 hou rs observation. The system will be operated at Poker Flat after the complet ion of development. The combination of these lidars and radars installed at Poker Flat, give us chances of simultaneous observations of the structure and dynamics of the atmosphere in broad range of altitudes. Hers, we give d escriptions of the Rayleigh lidar and the Rayleigh Doppler lidar for the ob servations of the Arctic middle atmosphere at Poker Flat.