Global balanced wind derived from SABER temperature and pressure observations and its validations

Abstract. Zonal winds in the stratosphere and mesosphere play important roles atmospheric dynamics aeronomy. However, direct measurement of this height range is difficult. We present a dataset monthly mean zonal wind 18–100 km at latitudes 50∘ S–50∘ N from 2002 to 2019, derived by gradient balance theory temperature pressure observed SABER instrument. The tide alias above 80 Equator replaced measured meteor radar 0.2∘ S. (named BU) validated comparing with MERRA2 (MerU), UARP (UraU), HWM14 empirical model (HwmU), (MetU), lidar (LidU) seven stations around 29.7∘ At 18–70 km, BU MerU have (i) nearly identical zero lines (ii) year-to-year variations eastward westward jets middle high latitudes, (iii) quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) semi-annual (SAO) especially disrupted QBO early 2016. comparisons among BU, UraU, HwmU show good agreement general below km. Above agreements HwmU, MetU, LidU are general, except some discrepancies limited heights months. data archived as netCDF files available https://doi.org/10.12176/01.99.00574 (Liu et al., 2021). advantages global its large vertical extent (from lower thermosphere) 18-year internally consistent time series (2002–2019). useful study temporal periods ranging seasons decades N. It can also be used background for wave propagation.