Articles | Volume 23, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13255-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13255-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Opinion: Recent developments and future directions in studying the mesosphere and lower thermosphere
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
Jörg Gumbel
Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Konstantinos S. Kalogerakis
Center for Geospace Studies, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
Daniel R. Marsh
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80307, USA
Christian von Savigny
Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
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Total article views: 3,741 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The Role of Wind Velocity, Wind Shear, and Electric Fields in the Formation of Sporadic E (Es) G. Didebulidze et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091002
- Experimental modeling of atmospheric discharge phenomena and charged dust particle interactions M. Abdelaal et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2024.1347048
- Measurement report: Rocket-borne measurements of large ions in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere – detection of meteor smoke particles J. Stude et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-383-2025
- Error analysis of a simulated Fe resonance wind temperature lidar using frequency-scanning method and three-frequency ratio method D. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2025.10.083
- The impact of photoelectron emission on dusty plasma diffusion in polar mesosphere Z. Li & J. Ma https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae26eb
- Investigating MLT response to active geomagnetic conditions using WACCM-X simulations, Wuhan meteor radar and SABER observations A. Mahmoudian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2026.106757
- Extreme concentric gravity waves observed in the mesosphere and thermosphere regions over southern Brazil associated with fast-moving severe thunderstorms Q. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9719-2025
- Dynamics, chemistry, and modeling studies in the aviation and aerospace transition zone Z. Sheng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2025.101012
- Instrumentation, Databases, and Data Utilisation in Solar–Terrestrial Physics: An Overview of the Current Status and Recommendations for the Future L. Baddeley et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-026-09953-8
- Altitude-dependent formation of polar mesospheric clouds: charged nucleation and in situ ice growth on zonal and daily scales L. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12701-2025
- Nonthermal productions of OH electronic excited states in auroral ionospheric plasma C. Tanssaout et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physleta.2026.131580
- Opinion: Stratospheric ozone – depletion, recovery and new challenges M. Chipperfield & S. Bekki https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2783-2024
- Three-Step Growth of Vapor-Deposited Ice under Mesospheric Temperature and Water Vapor Conditions R. Sato et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.5c01536
- Meteor observations in the northern polar MLT region: A comprehensive long-term analysis V. Portel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2026.03.092
- Climatology of meteor echoes and mean winds in the MLT region revealed by SVU meteor radar over Tirupati (13.63oN, 79.4oE): Long-term trends M. Venkat Ratnam et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2024.12.055
- Interhemispheric Anti-Phase Variability in Mesospheric Climate Driven by Summer Polar Upwelling During Solstice Months L. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-13141-2025
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The Role of Wind Velocity, Wind Shear, and Electric Fields in the Formation of Sporadic E (Es) G. Didebulidze et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091002
- Experimental modeling of atmospheric discharge phenomena and charged dust particle interactions M. Abdelaal et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2024.1347048
- Measurement report: Rocket-borne measurements of large ions in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere – detection of meteor smoke particles J. Stude et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-383-2025
- Error analysis of a simulated Fe resonance wind temperature lidar using frequency-scanning method and three-frequency ratio method D. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2025.10.083
- The impact of photoelectron emission on dusty plasma diffusion in polar mesosphere Z. Li & J. Ma https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae26eb
- Investigating MLT response to active geomagnetic conditions using WACCM-X simulations, Wuhan meteor radar and SABER observations A. Mahmoudian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2026.106757
- Extreme concentric gravity waves observed in the mesosphere and thermosphere regions over southern Brazil associated with fast-moving severe thunderstorms Q. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9719-2025
- Dynamics, chemistry, and modeling studies in the aviation and aerospace transition zone Z. Sheng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2025.101012
- Instrumentation, Databases, and Data Utilisation in Solar–Terrestrial Physics: An Overview of the Current Status and Recommendations for the Future L. Baddeley et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-026-09953-8
- Altitude-dependent formation of polar mesospheric clouds: charged nucleation and in situ ice growth on zonal and daily scales L. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12701-2025
- Nonthermal productions of OH electronic excited states in auroral ionospheric plasma C. Tanssaout et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physleta.2026.131580
- Opinion: Stratospheric ozone – depletion, recovery and new challenges M. Chipperfield & S. Bekki https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2783-2024
- Three-Step Growth of Vapor-Deposited Ice under Mesospheric Temperature and Water Vapor Conditions R. Sato et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.5c01536
- Meteor observations in the northern polar MLT region: A comprehensive long-term analysis V. Portel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2026.03.092
- Climatology of meteor echoes and mean winds in the MLT region revealed by SVU meteor radar over Tirupati (13.63oN, 79.4oE): Long-term trends M. Venkat Ratnam et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2024.12.055
- Interhemispheric Anti-Phase Variability in Mesospheric Climate Driven by Summer Polar Upwelling During Solstice Months L. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-13141-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 17 Jun 2026
Editorial statement
This paper is one of those appearing to celebrate the 20th birthday of ACP. It is a nice informal well-written resume of what has been happening in mesospheric science recently and I am sure that many readers will find it helpful and interesting.
This paper is one of those appearing to celebrate the 20th birthday of ACP. It is a nice...
Short summary
The mesosphere or lower thermosphere region of the atmosphere borders the edge of space. It is subject to extreme ultraviolet photons and charged particles from the Sun and atmospheric gravity waves from below, which tend to break in this region. The pressure is very low, which facilitates chemistry involving species in excited states, and this is also the region where cosmic dust ablates and injects various metals. The result is a unique and exotic chemistry.
The mesosphere or lower thermosphere region of the atmosphere borders the edge of space. It is...
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