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Satellite Measurements of Neutral Atmospheric Composition in the Altitude Range 150-450 km

Document ID: 7

Philbrick, C. Russell

 AFCRL
 Hanscom AFB, MA
 

Presented: 14th Plenary Meeting of COSPAR
Constance, FRG, 23 May - 5 June 1973

Abstract

Measurements have been obtained from similar pairs of mass spectrometers flown on the OV3-6 and OV 1-15 satellites. On each satellite, an instrument using an enclosed ion source and one using a semi-open ion source were used to measure the neutral species. The atmos­pheric species measured include O, N₂, Ar, N and NO. The results from these experiments have allowed a study of the variations of the atmosphere with local time, latitude, altitude and various geophysical parameters. The [O/N₂] ratio has an average value of unity near 200 km but can vary over a considerable range. The composition measurements exhibit significantly larger variations than presently allowed by atmospheric models and point out the inadequacies of static diffusion models.

 

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Keywords: mass spectrometer data, gas composition, ion composition, OV3-6 satellite, OV1-15 satellite

Citation:

"Satellite Measurements of Neutral Atmospheric Composition in the Altitude Range 150-450 km", Philbrick, C. R., Proceedings of the 16th Plenary Meeting of COSPAR, COSPAR (Committee on Space Research), 1974, pp. 151 - 156

Images

OV3-6 Launch 4 December 1967