Book Description

Information on the horizontal and vertical distributions of density and wind and their variation with time is important in the design and operation of aerospace vehicles as well as to atmospheric scientists seeking a more precise description of atmospheric structure. Consequently, we have estimated the variations of density and wind at seven locations for periods of from 1 to 72 h between altitudes 30 and 60 km. In the tropics density variations with time are dominated by a diurnal cycle. At other latitudes the diurnal cycle is too small to detect in a lag variability study based on Meteorological Rocket Network observations because the diurnal components are obscured by random observational errors as well as day-to-day changes in synoptic conditions. In summer there is only a small increase in rms variability of density with time at middle and high latitudes; rms values range from 20 to 4 percent for periods up to 72 h. In winter there is a marked change in the rms variability with time at midlatitudes where rms values increase with time, approaching the climatic variability of 5 or 6 percent in 72 h. At high latitudes rms variations increase more rapidly with time and reach 8 or 9 percent within 72 h. Analyses of midlatitude wind data between 30 and 60 km confirm the presence of a well-defined diurnal wind oscillation. It reaches a maximum amplitude of 10 or 11 m/sec between 50 and 55 km; amplitudes tend to be slightly smaller in tropical and polar regions.