Global exospheric temperatures from ESRO 4 scale height measurementsThe scale height temperatures considered are based on molecular nitrogen measurements by the gas analyzer aboard the ESRO 4 in the altitude range from 280 to 310 km during the interval from December 1972 to April 1974, a period of low solar activity. At the altitude of measurement during the considered period, the scale height temperature is essentially the exospheric temperature. The mean scale height temperature derived from 1833 independent N2 scale heights is 708 K. It is concluded that the ESRO 4 data provides evidence of mean global temperatures of less than 800 K.
Document ID
19770062872
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Keating, G. M. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Prior, E. J. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, Va., United States)
Lake, L. R. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Nicholson, J. Y., III (Old Dominion University Research Foundation, Norfolk, Va., United States)