A long-term comparison of mesopause region wind measurements over Eastern and Central Europe

Two very long data sets of mesopause region winds measured over Obninsk (55°N, 37°E) and Collm (52°N, 15°E) in the time interval 1973–2000 are compared. Measurements are carried out using a meteor radar at Obninsk and the LF D1 method at Collm. The meteor wind measurements over Obninsk were carried out without height resolution. The long-term means of both prevailing and tidal winds show good correspondence if a reference height of 90–92 km for Obninsk is assumed. The interannual and interdecadal variability of the prevailing winds is different over Collm and Obninsk. This is probably partly due to regional variations of the mesospheric/lower thermospheric wind field. The semidiurnal tidal amplitudes have decreased during the last 30 years over both Central and Eastern Europe, which is accompanied by a shift in the semidiurnal tidal phase.