Lunar tidal winds in the mesosphere over Wuhan and Adelaide Original Research Article

Based on measurements made from 2002 to 2003 in the 80–98 km region by the Wuhan meteor radar (31°N, 114°E) and winds observed simultaneously by the Adelaide MF radar (35°S, 138°E), the amplitude and phase of the lunar semidiurnal tide are computed and compared. There is a clear seasonal variation at both stations. A northward amplitude maximum in February is evident over Adelaide and in April over Wuhan, but the eastward amplitude maximizes in January over Wuhan and in October over Adelaide. The height variation of phase displays a 3 ± 1 lunar hour difference, with the eastward component leading the northward component for most months at Adelaide and eastward wind lagging the northward wind at Wuhan. Comparisons of phases between Wuhan and Adelaide suggest that an anti-symmetric tide may be dominant in March, April, June and July and a symmetric tide in January, September and December.