A comparison of PMSE and other ground-based observations during the NLC-91 campaign

During the period July/August 1991 observations were made of polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) at 46.9 MHz and 224 MHz by the CUPRI and EISCAT radars, respectively, at two sites in northern Scandinavia. Those observations are here compared with observations of noctilucent clouds, energetic particle precipition and magnetic disturbances. The appearance and morphology of PMSE is found to be closely correlated at the two frequencies and the two sites, 200 km apart. No correlation is found between PMSE and noctilucent clouds or magnetic disturbance. No correlation is found between energetic particle precipitation and the appearnce of PMSE at 46.9 MHz for the whole time period. At 224 MHz there is no evidence for a correlation before the beginning of August and only one event suggesting a possible correlation after the beginning of August. A minimum in occurrence frequency for PMSE is found between 16-21 UT (17-22 LST) which may be related to an expected minimum in background wind strength in the time interval.


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