THE LATITUDE AND SEASONAL VARIATION OF DENSITY FROM 200 TO 800 KM,
Abstract
The behavior of density with latitude and season has been derived above 200 km from satellite orbital decay (drag) data and the character of solar upper-atmosphere heating deduced from astronomy. The meridional density decreases from the equator to the poles, except for the summer in the respective hemisphere, where there is little or no gradient, and the fall in the northern hemisphere, which has a marked increase in density from the equator to 30 degrees - 40N. This latter trait is anomalous and unexplained. The density over the southern hemisphere in winter is less than that over the northern hemisphere in winter at the same altitude; the minimum density is found over the south pole. When the diurnal (longitude) effect is included, the isopycnics delineating the density bulge caused by the sun are asymmetric. At 200 km, the longitudinal density gradient is much less than at 800 km, so that the relative density contours are oriented more east-west than north-south, as at 800 km. A simple explanation is given for the semi-annual effect on the upper-atmosphere density found by Paetzold and Zschorner in satellite orbital decay data. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0611843
Entities
People
- Albert D. Anderson
Organizations
- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space