Temperature trends observed in the middle atmosphere and future directions

Temperature trends in the middle atmosphere were derived from several temperature datasets including radiosondes, rocketsondes, lidars, and from successive radiometers onboard satellites like the Stratospheric Sounder Unit (SSU) and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU). All exhibits limitation for deriving accurate trends, while none of them were set up for climate issues. While ground-based suffer discontinuities, satellite measurements have atmospheric tides interferences depending on their orbits and sometimes drifting. For the future, ground-based continuity will be improved concerning their quality check for climate issues and need to continue at some reference locations and operational meteorological radiometers will be onboard satellite having stable orbits. GPS occultation technique will offer a much better coverage of the lower stratosphere with fewer risks of bias compared to in situ sensors. Meteorological analyses will require improved models of the mesospheric dynamical processes including gravity waves. In this regard, assimilated wind information will be highly strategic.