1. Status Report on Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper Activities at ALOMAR Mike Taylor, P.-Dominique Pautet Utah State University ASAC Meeting - Hamburg, March 2011

2. ALOMAR Arctic Lidar Observatory for High Latitude Research 69.3° N, 16.0° E Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) for High-Latitude Research Scientific Goals Quantify effects of gravity wave dissipation on mesopause region at high latitudes. Investigate impact of strong auroral storms on D-region dynamics. Coordinated measurements with lidar, radar and rocket soundings of the high latitude Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Ionosphere (MTI) system. Novel instrument: utilizes NIR (0.9-1.65  m) InGaAs detector coupled to a specially developed large format (120° field of view) fast (f/1) telecentric optics. South Pole InGaAs camera Optics made at USU/SDL Spectral range: 1.5-1.65  m

3. AMTM Status One camera system operated at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station since the 2010 Austral winter Second system installed at ALOMAR in Nov 2010 Fully operational since Jan 2011 InGaAs camera with high spectral sensitivity over 0.9-1.65  m. 320 x 256 pixels detector New detector greatly simplifies AMTM automatic operation.

4. Near-infrared OH spectral emission lines (around 1.5-1.65 µm) in presence of aurora. AMTM observes OH (3,1) and (4,2) spectral lines for MLT temperature measurements (indicated in red) Poker Flat, Alaska High-Latitude NIR OH Spectra AMTM Spectral Range

5. Installation of the Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper at ALOMAR (Nov 2010) Quartz dome IR camera (0.9-1.7 μ m) Filter wheel F:1.0 telecentric lens Temperature measurement every ~45s over 120 ° FOV

6. Example of Front/Breaking Event ALOMAR 2010-11

7. Summary of Observations Nov 2010-Mar 2011 Problem with filter wheel To date Full moon Full moon

8. Current Status We have just been awarded an operation grant for the AMTM by the US National Science Foundation for a period of 3 years. The AMTM will be return to USU this summer for further calibration and to prepare for long-term operations at ALOMAR starting September 2011. We have obtained many good nights of data already (23+ this year) and are eager to collaborate. During this winter, we have determined that we can operate the AMTM even during moon up conditions which will significantly increase our observing hours in subsequent winter seasons. Note: The following 2 viewgraphs list dates and times for 2009-10 (OH imager only) and 2010-11 AMTM temperature imaging. Special thanks to ALOMAR for hiding the light on the tower, we noticed!

9. Dec 15-16 15:07 UT18:28 UT Dec 16-1717:406:56 Dec 18-1918:056:58 Dec 20-2114:556:59 Dec 22-2318:227:00 Dec 24-2521:327:01 Dec 25-2623:147:01 Dec 26-271:077:01 Feb 08-09 16:515:37 Feb 09-1019:11 Feb 10-1119:025:30 Feb 11-1217:01 Feb 15-1617:16 Feb 17-1817:235:05 Feb 18-1918:41#5295 Feb 19-2018:14#5510 Feb 20-210:013:31 Jan 03-04 15:1019:11 Jan 04-0515:1221:15 Jan 05-0615:1423:11 Jan 14-1515:346:43 Jan 15-1615:366:41 Jan 16-1715:396:40 Jan 17-1815:426:38 Jan 18-1915:446:35 Jan 20-2118:486:31 Jan 21-2218:322:17 Jan 22-2318:30 6:28 Jan 24-2523:006:30 Mar 12-13 Mar 13-1418:563:22 Mar 14-1519:013:17 List of USU GW Image 2009-10

10. Jan 05-06 15:146:56 Jan 10-1118:316:50 Jan 11-1220:316:49 Jan 12-1322:016:47 Jan 13-1423:316:45 Jan 15-162:016:41 Jan 18-194:466:35 Jan 24-2518:216:18 Feb 02-03 16:305:57 Feb 03-0416:345:54 Feb 04-0516:375:51 Feb 05-0616:405:47 Feb 13-142:025:13 Feb 14-153:205:10 Feb 15-163:165:06 Feb 16-173:165:02 Feb 20-2117:354:21 Feb 22-2317:394:39 Feb 23-2419:354:35 Mar 10-11 19:313:29 Mar 14-1519:003:10 Mar 16-1719:093:07 List of Best Nights of AMTM Observations - Nov 2010 to date Nov 26-27 19:52 UT22:30 UT Nov 27-2815:150:30 Nov 28-2915:1323:30 Contact: dominiquepautet@gmail.com