福爾摩沙衛星三號(FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC, F3/C)具更觀察大範圍電離層電子密度隨高度垂直分佈之特性，因此適合用來從事全球電離層監測。本論文利用福衛三號衛星2006-2010年觀測之F2層層峰電子濃度NmF2和高度hmF2推演和研究熱氣層子午風(Meridional Wind)之全球分佈。首先比對福三推演之中性風與同一地點的Fabry-Perot interferometer(FPI)干涉儀記錄，以確定其準確性。進一步檢視F3/C推演、FPI紀錄與水平風模式horizontal wind model (HWM)模擬，以探討熱氣層中性風之日夜、季節、經度、年變化及其相關物理機制。 FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) is useful to study a large area observation on the ionospheric electron density prolife. This paper derives meridional winds in the thermosphere by means of the ionospheric F2 peak electron density NmF2 and height hmF2 observed by F3/C during 2006-2010. The derived meridional winds are cross checked by mid-latitude ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs) at Beijing (39.9oN , 116.4oE), Millstone Hill (42.6oN , 71.5oW) , and Boulder(40.1oN, 105.1oW). Agreement between the two confirm that the F3/C NmF2 and hmF2 can be used to derive correct meridional winds. Finally, the derived results are employed to understand diurnal, seasonal, longitudinal variations of the distribution and mechanisms of horizontal neutral winds.
