Comparison of ICON/MIGHTI and TIMED/SABER Neutral Temperature Measurements at Conjunctions in the Lower Thermosphere.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Comparison of ICON/MIGHTI and TIMED/SABER Neutral Temperature Measurements at Conjunctions in the Lower Thermosphere.
Authors: Dhadly, Manbharat1 (AUTHOR) manbharat.s.dhadly.civ@us.navy.mil, Stevens, Michael2 (AUTHOR), Emmert, John1 (AUTHOR), Mlynczak, Martin3 (AUTHOR), Jones, McArthur1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. May2026, Vol. 131 Issue 5, p1-21. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Temperature, *Atmospheric tides, *Mesosphere, Temperature measurements, Atmospheric radiation measurement, Optical interferometers, Thermosphere, Atmospheric waves
Abstract: This study presents a cross‐comparison of mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) neutral temperatures between 88 and 110 km measured by ICON/Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) from 2020 to 2022. We analyzed MIGHTI Level‐2.3 (v06) and SABER Level‐2.08 (v02) data, identifying conjunctions using local time ± $\pm $15 min, latitude ± $\pm $2°, and longitude ± $\pm $4° around each SABER measurement. Due to their orbital geometries, frequent conjunctions occurred between MIGHTI and SABER, widely distributed in longitude but nearly locked in local time and latitude, enabling direct comparison of daily longitudinal temperature variability at fixed local time and latitude between 88 and 110 km. Daily temperature structures from MIGHTI and SABER show excellent agreement, capturing coherent longitudinal oscillations with peak‐to‐trough amplitudes of ∼40–60 K likely associated with upward‐propagating non‐migrating tides and planetary waves. Statistical analyses reveal that MIGHTI daytime temperatures are more correlated (∼0.82) than nighttime (∼0.74) with MIGHTI daytime temperatures consistently warmer than SABER and the difference increasing with altitude from ∼3 K at 88–95 km to ∼26 K at 105–110 km. Nighttime differences are statistically insignificant. Mean absolute residuals show a clear diurnal behavior, peaking at daytime and minimizing at nighttime. Residuals exhibit seasonal dependence but no particular systematic latitudinal and longitudinal dependence. This study compares MIGHTI and SABER temperatures to clarify their similarities and differences, an understanding that is important for interpreting global MLT tidal behavior from space‐based observations; it does not seek to demonstrate which instrument provides more accurate absolute MLT temperatures. Key Points: Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) and Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) show strong agreement in daily mesosphere and lower thermosphere region temperature oscillations driven by non‐migrating tidesDaytime MIGHTI temperatures are consistently warmer than SABER, with their mean difference increasing from ∼3 K to ∼26 K between 88 and 110 kmMIGHTI‐SABER differences exhibit local time, altitude, and seasonal dependence but no particular latitudinal and longitudinal dependence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: GreenFILE
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: 8gh
DbLabel: GreenFILE
An: 194052517
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Comparison of ICON/MIGHTI and TIMED/SABER Neutral Temperature Measurements at Conjunctions in the Lower Thermosphere.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dhadly%2C+Manbharat%22">Dhadly, Manbharat</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> manbharat.s.dhadly.civ@us.navy.mil</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stevens%2C+Michael%22">Stevens, Michael</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emmert%2C+John%22">Emmert, John</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mlynczak%2C+Martin%22">Mlynczak, Martin</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jones%2C+McArthur%22">Jones, McArthur</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Space+Physics%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 131 Issue 5, p1-21. 21p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Temperature%22">Temperature</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+tides%22">Atmospheric tides</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mesosphere%22">Mesosphere</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Temperature+measurements%22">Temperature measurements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+radiation+measurement%22">Atmospheric radiation measurement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Optical+interferometers%22">Optical interferometers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermosphere%22">Thermosphere</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+waves%22">Atmospheric waves</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study presents a cross‐comparison of mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) neutral temperatures between 88 and 110 km measured by ICON/Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) from 2020 to 2022. We analyzed MIGHTI Level‐2.3 (v06) and SABER Level‐2.08 (v02) data, identifying conjunctions using local time ± $\pm $15 min, latitude ± $\pm $2°, and longitude ± $\pm $4° around each SABER measurement. Due to their orbital geometries, frequent conjunctions occurred between MIGHTI and SABER, widely distributed in longitude but nearly locked in local time and latitude, enabling direct comparison of daily longitudinal temperature variability at fixed local time and latitude between 88 and 110 km. Daily temperature structures from MIGHTI and SABER show excellent agreement, capturing coherent longitudinal oscillations with peak‐to‐trough amplitudes of ∼40–60 K likely associated with upward‐propagating non‐migrating tides and planetary waves. Statistical analyses reveal that MIGHTI daytime temperatures are more correlated (∼0.82) than nighttime (∼0.74) with MIGHTI daytime temperatures consistently warmer than SABER and the difference increasing with altitude from ∼3 K at 88–95 km to ∼26 K at 105–110 km. Nighttime differences are statistically insignificant. Mean absolute residuals show a clear diurnal behavior, peaking at daytime and minimizing at nighttime. Residuals exhibit seasonal dependence but no particular systematic latitudinal and longitudinal dependence. This study compares MIGHTI and SABER temperatures to clarify their similarities and differences, an understanding that is important for interpreting global MLT tidal behavior from space‐based observations; it does not seek to demonstrate which instrument provides more accurate absolute MLT temperatures. Key Points: Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) and Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) show strong agreement in daily mesosphere and lower thermosphere region temperature oscillations driven by non‐migrating tidesDaytime MIGHTI temperatures are consistently warmer than SABER, with their mean difference increasing from ∼3 K to ∼26 K between 88 and 110 kmMIGHTI‐SABER differences exhibit local time, altitude, and seasonal dependence but no particular latitudinal and longitudinal dependence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=194052517
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2026JA035195
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Temperature
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric tides
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mesosphere
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Temperature measurements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric radiation measurement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Optical interferometers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thermosphere
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric waves
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Comparison of ICON/MIGHTI and TIMED/SABER Neutral Temperature Measurements at Conjunctions in the Lower Thermosphere.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dhadly, Manbharat
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Stevens, Michael
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Emmert, John
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mlynczak, Martin
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jones, McArthur
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 21699380
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 131
            – Type: issue
              Value: 5
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
              Type: main
ResultId 1