Daytime laser sounding in the visible wavelength region - Application to the study of atomic sodium in the mesosphere

Abstract

International audienceDaytime atmospheric laser soundings have been performed in the visible wavelength range by means of a new optical set-up. Observations at the Haute-Provence Observatory (44 deg N, 6 deg E) of the atomic sodium layer in the upper atmosphere confirm the nonvariation of the sodium total content during the day-night transition and show that during the day the behavior of neutral sodium is controlled by dynamic processes