METEOR TRAIL MEASUREMENTS BY RADIO ECHO DETECTION MEANS
Abstract
Research was concerned with the measurement of upper atmospheric densities and scale heights from the radio echo observations of meteor trails. From measurement of the mean heights at which meteors of different velocity burn away, the air density can be determined. The widths of the height distributions for meteors in homogeneous velocity groups also give the scale height. The theory of meteor evaporation is found to break down for velocities less than 30 km/sec, and this method can only be applied to meteors with velocities between 30 and 70 km/sec, which ionize between heights of 90 and 100km. Densities and scale heights can also be determined by measurements of the molecular diffusion coefficient in the height range 85 to 100km, diffusion coefficient being given by observation of the radio echo duration. Some measurements of density and scale height are presented, and in particular the diurnal variation of atmospheric density is discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1958
- Accession Number
- AD0257096
Entities
Organizations
- University of Manchester