Observations of resonant scattering in the thermosphere and upper mesosphere in the winter season of 2021

Abstract

An analysis of the Kamchatka lidar station data obtained in January-February 2021 is presented. Pronounced light scattering layers at altitudes of 300 km have been detected. Layers at these heights appear during precipitation of electrons with energies of about 300 eV. Analysis of the lidar data showed that increased light scattering was observed at the heights of the mesosphere, accompanied by an increase in the ionospheric parameter fmin. It was concluded that the observed aerosol formations in the mesopause region could be caused by precipitation of charged particles with energies of ∼ 500 keV. Aerosol formations in the area of 60-75 km should be recognized as imaginary. This is a manifestation of resonant scattering by excited ions of atomic nitrogen