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A comparison of measured and inferred temperatures from Aeros‐B
Author(s) -
Chandra S.,
Spencer N. W.,
Krankowsky D.,
Lämmerzahl P.
Publication year - 1976
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/gl003i012p00718
Subject(s) - polar , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , ion , kinetic energy , physics , latitude , atomic physics , materials science , thermodynamics , astronomy , quantum mechanics
The neutral composition and the temperature data obtained from the AEROS‐B Neutral Atmosphere Temperature Experiment (NATE) and the Neutral and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NIMS) are compared, and the general validity of inferring gas temperatures from N 2 and Ar density profiles is examined by comparing them with the in situ measured values of the neutral kinetic temperature (NATE). At times serious discrepancies are noted between the inferred and the measured temperature. This is particularly evident during periods of increased magnetic activity when the normally observed latitudinal variations are apparently modulated by waves propagating from the polar region to low latitudes. Under these conditions the N 2 and Ar densities and temperature oscillations are usually out of phase, and the temperatures inferred from N 2 and Ar at a given point become meaningless.