| Session Description |
The structure and dynamics of the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region between about 80 and 150 km altitude are governed by winds, gravity waves, tides and other planetary-scale waves, instabilities, and diffusive processes. In the past two decades, there has been considerable progress in their understanding due to the operation of a number of ground-based radars and lidars, satellite-based remote sounding experiments and several modeling studies. This session provides an opportunity to discuss the new results obtained using the ground- and satellite measurements and theoretical modeling on all aspects pertaining to MLT structure and dynamics. The topics include tides, planetary waves and gravity waves; wave-wave and wave-mean flow interactions; mesospheric inversion layers, heat sources, thermal structure; airglow emission variations; neutral and ionized metallic layers; long-term changes and trends; mesospheric echo characteristics; stratospheric influence; MLT dynamical effects on ionospheric variabilities. |
