Other
Scientific paper
May 1983
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983p%26ss...31..509k&link_type=abstract
Planetary and Space Science (ISSN 0032-0633), vol. 31, May 1983, p. 509-535.
Other
39
Atmospheric Circulation, Satellite Orbits, Upper Atmosphere, Wind Measurement, Annual Variations, Latitude, Meridional Flow, Satellite Perturbation, Solar Activity Effects
Scientific paper
In this paper, the values of upper-atmosphere rotation rate (zonal winds) obtained by analysing satellite orbits determined from observations are reviewed and interpreted. The history of the method is briefly reviewed, the basic principles are explained, objections to the method are answered, and three examples are given. Existing analyses of the atmospheric rotation rate Lambda are critically reviewed, and, after rejecting some and revising others, 85 values remain. These are divided according to local time and season, to give the variation of Lambda with height in nine situations - namely morning, evening and average local time, for summer, winter and average season. These observational results indicate that the value of Lambda (in rev/day), averaged over both local time and season, increases from 1.0 at 125 km to 1.22 at 325 km and then decreases to 1.0 at 430 km and 0.82 at 600 km. The value of Lambda is higher in the evening (18-24 h), with a maximum value (near 1.4) corresponding to a West-to-East wind of 150 m/sec at heights near 300 km. The value of Lambda is lower in the morning (06-12 h), with East-to-West winds of order 50 m/sec at heights of 200-400 km. There is also a consistent seasonal variation, the values of Lambda being on average 0.15 higher in winter and 0.1 lower in summer than the average seasonal value. No significant variation with solar activity is found, but there is a slight tendency for a greater rotation rate at lower latitudes for heights above 300 km. Unexpectedly, the values for the 1960s are found to be significantly higher than those for the 1970s. Finally, these observational values are compared with the theoretical global model of Fuller-Rowell and Rees (1980): there is complete agreement on the trends, though there are some differences in the mean values.
King-Hele D. G.
Walker Doreen M. C.
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