Simultaneous nighttime Lidar measurements of atmospheric sodium and potassium

摘要: Abstract Simultaneous measurements of the nighttime atmospheric sodium and potassium layer have been performed over a period one year, using lidar facility set up at Haute Provence Observatory. A detailed description calibration method is given together with estimated accuracy experiment. The similarity observed in behaviour spatial parameters both layers indicates that same processes are responsible for their day-to-day variations. However, long term total column abundances very different: whereas shows usual seasonal variation already observed, no marked increase seen abundance during year. ratio these two elements varies then between low summer value (∼10) high winter (∼50). Two different origins can be assumed alkalis upper atmosphere: meteoritic constant year terrestrial source due to vertical transport particles latitudes which only works winter. Confirmation this hypothesis found lack as latitudes.