A comparison of thermospheric winds and temperatures from Fabry-Perot interferometer and EISCAT radar measurements with models Original Research Article

During the nights of 8–9 and 9–10 February 1997, Fabry-Perot interferometers were operated from the EISCAT radar site at Ramfjord (69.59° N, 19.23° E) and Skibotn (69.35° N, 20.36° E). From Ramfjord, horizontal neutral winds were measured in the lower and upper thermosphere using the auronal/airglow emissions at 557.7 and 630 nm, respectively. From Skibotn, thermospheric neutral temperatures were measured using the same wavelengths. The EISCAT radar measured ion temperatures up the local magnetic field line in the height range 90 – 580 km during the first night. Neutral winds are compared to the HWM-90 and CTIP-200 models with poor agreement. Neutral temperatures are compared to the MSISE-90 and CTIP-200 models as well as EISCAT ion temperatures with good agreement.