Prevailing Wind in the Meteor Zone (80–100 km) over Atlanta and its Association with Midwinter Stratospheric Warming

Abstract

The wind data generated by an all sky, continuous wave radio meteor wind facility at Atlanta (34°N, 84°W) is analyzed over the period of August 1974 through July 1975. Zonal and meridional components of the prevailing wind over the height range of 80?100 km, at 2 km intervals represent 5?10 day averages where the tidal components have been removed. Large southerly wind during winter and weak northerly wind during summer at 80?100,km altitude is consistent with other observations and mesospheric circulation models. Various phases of the 1974?75 midwinter stratospheric warming, including a pre-warming pulse during the second half of November 1974, are indicated to affect the prevailing Wind in the meteor zone over Atlanta in a consistent manner, by making use of the latitudinal and vertical compensation of temperature and also the movement of pressure systems in the stratosphere and above.