The global thermospheric mapping study

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA05p04039· OSTI ID:5940354

Oliver, W L; Salah, J E ^[1]

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1. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Westford (United States)

The Global Thermospheric Mapping Study (GTMS) is a multitechnique experimental pilot study of the Earth's thermosphere designed to map simultaneously its spatial and temporal morphology. This paper provides the background for the study and presents the analysis techniques employed at Millstone Hill and results to date on thermospheric structure and dynamics. The first latitudinal-temporal maps of exospheric temperature obtained from the incoherent scatter radar chain at 70W meridian are presented for the two solstice periods, revealing substantial seasonal differences between them. The observed structure shows a relatively depressed temperature at high latitude in summer in contrast to the mass spectrometer/incoherent scatter 1983 (MSIS-83) empirical model, which shows a maximum temperature at polar latitudes. The MSIS-83 model predictions are in good agreement with the observed latitudinal-temporal structure in winter. Comparison with the numerical predictions made for the June 26-28, 1984 period with the National Center for Atmospheric Research thermospheric general circulation model shows reasonable agreement in the latitudinal gradient but the observations indicate a cooler thermosphere by several hundred degrees. Neutral winds at mid-latitudes are presented showing the expected strong southward winds at night, which are found to be consistent with the temperature gradients observed in the latitudinal maps. There is good agreement in the June winds between the available numerical model calculations and the observations. Work performed elsewhere on the GTMS data base is summarized for completeness.

• OSTI ID: 5940354
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 93:A5; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA ANALYSIS
DYNAMICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EVALUATION
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
MAPPING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICS
MORPHOLOGY
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMOSPHERE
VARIATIONS
WIND