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Neutral composition in the polar thermosphere: Observations made on Dynamics Explorer
Author(s) -
Carignan G. R.,
Dachev T.,
Hedin A. E.,
Reber C. A.,
Spencer N. W.
Publication year - 1982
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/gl009i009p00949
Subject(s) - thermosphere , polar , latitude , satellite , southern hemisphere , altitude (triangle) , atmospheric sciences , northern hemisphere , defense meteorological satellite program , momentum (technical analysis) , ionosphere , high latitude , geology , physics , environmental science , geophysics , climatology , astronomy , geometry , mathematics , finance , economics
A neutral mass spectrometer on the lower altitude satellite of the Dynamics Explorer program is providing observations of compositional variability in the thermosphere. The 90° inclination of the satellite orbit provides excellent coverage over the polar caps. Two data sets, one in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern, are used to further illustrate the strong magnetic control of some of the heat and momentum sources at high latitudes and the complex morphology that results.