Geosciences Dept. Seminar: Observing the Upper Atmosphere Variability from the ground

Abstract: 

The upper atmosphere (around 100km altitude) is one of the most difficult parts of the atmosphere to study because it is too high for measurements by planes and balloons, and too low for in situ measurements by satellites.  However, this is the coldest place in our atmosphere (mesopause) while also being the start of our electrified atmosphere (ionosphere).  The upper atmosphere is also extremely sensitive to increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, with the upper atmosphere cooling a lot faster than the surface global warming.  In the seminar some of the ground-based methods used at TAU for studying this part of the atmosphere will be presented.  These include the use of VLF radio waves, IR spectrometry, and infrasound.  These remote sensing tools can help us understand the variability of the upper atmosphere on short and long time scales in order to develop better parameterizations in weather and climate models.

Seminar Organizer: Prof. Eyal Haifetz