Upper-atmosphere structure measurement made with the pitot-static tube

Abstract

Profiles of atmospheric pressure, density, and temperature for the region from 20 to 110 km above Fort Churchill, Canada, were computed from the data obtained during a single fall‐day rocket flight. The temperature profile had a major maximum at 58 km, a secondary maximum at 82 km, and several minor maxima in the region from 20 to 55 km. During the same flight a horizontal‐wind profile was obtained in the region from 80 to 115 km. Average wind speed was 125 m/sec, and the maximum wind speed was 250 m/sec at 115 km. The method of measurement, the problems encountered, and the results are discussed. Methods are prescribed for the use of the pitot‐static tube for accurate synoptic atmospheric structure measurements from 20 to 80 km and for the measurement of semidiurnal pressure variations in the same region.

meteorological rocket observations and research in the soviet union

“…One notable difference between the conduct of observations there and elsewhere is in the routine use of pressure gages. Until recently, U. S. experimenters have employed gages mainly with large rockets (Spencer et al, 1964;Ainsworth, 1961). These rockets have the advantage of reaching altitudes above 90 km, but the expense and complicated data reduction makes them impractical for routine meteorological utilization.…”

“…Advantage is taken of its favorable location for studying stratospheric warmings. Petrov and Ryazanova (1964) have used rocket data from this station to analyze warmings in 1958in , 1960in and 1961in . Quiroz (1966 has indicated the density changes associated with the 1958 warming on the basis of Heiss Island rocket results.…”

The measurement of O2number density by absorption of Lyman α

“…, falling sphere[Bartman et al, 1956;Peterson and McWatters, 1963], and Pitot tube[Ainsworth et al, 1961;Horvath et al, 1962]. It should be noted that atmospheric density is not measured directly by any of these techniques.…”

Seasonal variation of density and temperature over Churchill, Canada, during solar maximum

“…One series of experiments, with the determination of these structural parameters as the objective, employed the 'grenade' technique [Stroud et al, 1960]; another used the 'falling sphere' technique [Jones et al, 1959]; a third, the pitot-static tube technique, concerned with measurements above 100 km as well as below, employed various types of pressure measurement devices in special geomet. rio configurations [Ainsworth et al, 1961]. The fourth technique, called the pressure gage experiment, enabled determination of the desired quantities from basic conical nose-cone surface-pressure measurements.…”