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A new technique for the analysis of neutral air density fluctuations measured in situ in the middle atmosphere
Author(s) -
Strelnikov B.,
Rapp M.,
Lübken F.J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl018271
Subject(s) - wavelet , atmosphere (unit) , turbulence , rocket (weapon) , depth sounding , sounding rocket , computational physics , altitude (triangle) , environmental science , ionization , thermosphere , meteorology , physics , scale (ratio) , remote sensing , geology , ionosphere , geophysics , aerospace engineering , computer science , mathematics , ion , geometry , astronomy , oceanography , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , engineering
We consider the analysis of mesospheric neutral air density fluctuations caused by turbulent eddy motions as measured by rocket borne ionization gauges. After shortly reviewing the so far standard Fourier‐approach we introduce wavelets as a suitable tool to derive spectral information of the data both as a function of spatial scale and altitude. Applying both techniques to a data set obtained during a recent sounding rocket campaign we show that both methods yield consistent results, however, the wavelet technique yields additional information on the actual vertical extent of the observed turbulent structures.