HR: 08:55h
AN: SA31A-04 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere Mission Overview and Collaborative Studies Using the AIM and TIMED Data Sets
AU: * Rusell, J M
EM: james.russell@hamptonu.edu
AF: Hampton University, Center for Atmospheric Sciences 23 Tyler Street, Hampton, VA 232668, United States
AU: Bailey, S M
EM: baileys@vt.edu
AF: Virginia Tech, Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
AU: Rusch, D
EM: david.rusch@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: University of Colorado, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
AU: Gordley, L L
EM: l.l.gordley@gats-inc.com
AF: GATS, Inc., 11864 Canon Blvd Suite 101, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
AU: Hervig, M E
EM: m.e.hervig@gats-inc.com
AF: GATS, Inc., 11864 Canon Blvd Suite 101, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
AU: Merkel, A
EM: Aimee.Merkel@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: University of Colorado, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
AB: The Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) mission was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on April 25, 2007 becoming the first satellite mission dedicated to the study of noctilucent clouds that occur at approximately 83km altitude. A Pegasus XL rocket launched the satellite into a near perfect 600 km sun synchronous circular orbit. AIM carries three instruments - a nadir imager, a solar occultation instrument and an in-situ cosmic dust detector - that were specifically selected because of their ability to provide key measurements needed to address the six AIM science objectives. The Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics mission was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on December 7, 2001 and is dedicated to the study of the structure, chemistry, energetics and dynamics of the atmospheric region between 60 km and 180 km altitude. TIMED carries four instruments including an infrared limb sounder to characteristic the temperature, chemistry, energetics and dynamics of the region; a global ultraviolet imager; a solar flux monitor and an instrument to measure winds. Together AIM and TIMED form an important component of the Heliophysics Great Observatory. This paper will provide an overview of the AIM mission and will discuss collaborative studies using the combined AIM/TIMED data sets in a synergistic way to advance our knowledge of this region where the sun first interacts with Earth's atmosphere.
DE: 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906)
DE: 0320 Cloud physics and chemistry
DE: 0340 Middle atmosphere: composition and chemistry
DE: 0350 Pressure, density, and temperature
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting