Scientific Goal

To explore the mesosphere and lower thermosphere globally and achieve a major improvement in our understanding of the fundamental processes governing the energetics, chemistry, dynamics, and transport of the atmospheric region extending from 60 km to 180 km. SABER is one of four instruments on NASA's TIMED Mission.

• Study the mesosphere and lower thermosphere structure including its seasonal, latitudinal and temporal variations.
• Investigate the energetics and distribution of radiatively active species in the non-LTE environment to understand the relative importance of radiative, chemical, and dynamical sources and sinks of energy.
• Analyze the Oy and HOy chemistry and its coupling with energetics and dynamics.
• Conduct studies of dynamics and transport and their role in the energy budget.
• Develop a climatology of key atmospheric parameters in the TIMED core region from 60 to 130 km.