First Lidar Profiling of Meteoric Ca+ Ion Transport From ∼80 to 300 km in the Midlatitude Nighttime Ionosphere

Abstract

Abstract We report a world record of lidar profiling of metallic Ca+ ions up to 300 km in the midlatitude nighttime ionosphere during geomagnetic quiet time. Ca+ measurements (∼80–300 km) were made over Beijing (40.42°N, 116.02°E) with an Optical‐Parametric‐Oscillator‐based lidar from March 2020 through June 2021. Main Ca+ layers (80–100 km) persist through all nights, and high‐density sporadic Ca+ layers (∼100–120 km) frequently occur in summer. Thermosphere‐ionosphere Ca+ (TICa+) layers (∼110–300 km) are likely formed via Ca+ uplifting from these sporadic layers. The lidar observations capture the complete evolution of TICa+ layers from onset to ending, revealing intriguing features. Concurrent ionosonde measurements show strong sporadic E layers developed before TICa+ and spread F onset. Neutral winds can partially account for observed vertical transport but enhanced electric fields are required to explain the results. Such lidar observations promise new insights into E‐ and F‐region coupling and plasma inhomogeneities.

Keywords

• Ca+ lidar
• metallic ion transport
• thermosphere‐ionosphere metal layers
• E‐F region coupling
• TICa+
• sporadic E layers