Sporadic metal atom and ion layers and their connection to chemistry and thermal structure in the mesopause region at Arecibo

We present an analysis of two separate and distinct sporadic layer events in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region above the Arecibo Observatory. These layers were observed in both neutral K and ionic Ca+ with lidars, and in electron density with incoherent scatter radar. Temperature profiles were determined from the K lidar. One sporadic event was a high altitude layer, in which both atomic and ion sporadic layers were positioned above 100 km altitude. This represents a relatively common sporadic layer visible in both ions and neutrals at Arecibo. The other observation was less typical, with a lower altitude and more diffuse sporadic E layer, extending from below 90 km to above 95 km, which dissipated coincident with growth of a sporadic neutral K layer. We analyze these separate events using a temperature-dependent chemical model, which employs commonly accepted chemical processes. We find that the model successfully reproduces the high altitude layer of June 12–13, 2002. The result shows a temperature dependence related to the chemical lifetimes of the metallic constituents, and that the neutral layer would not have formed had the temperature profile matched that of the MSIS-90 model. Second, the temperature dependent chemistry model also reproduced K+ in close agreement with electron densities on June 14–15, 2002. However, the modeled neutrals do not agree well with the observation above 90 km, and it likely requires inclusion of dynamical forcing and advection. We speculate that model and observational deficiencies, primarily exclusion of dynamics such as advection and wave interactions, are the likely shortcomings in the failure to reproduce the observations.

► We describe a temperature-dependent chemical model of sporadic metallic atom layers.
► We combine multi-metal, temperature and electron density measurements in our model.
► We study ion-neutral chemistry of the MLT with a focus on sporadic layers at Arecibo.
► We show a strong temperature dependence on metal layer formation and evolution.
► We show the parameterized dynamic influences are the model cannot reproduce some cases.