Wind and temperature measurements in the mesosphere by meteorological rockets

Abstract

Small, solid‐propellant rockets carrying meteorological instruments to altitudes beyond the capability of conventional balloons have provided a relatively large number of direct measurements of wind and temperature in the mesosphere. Data are presented from 110 meteorological‐rocket launches made at Point Mugu, California, during a 17‐month period. They show (a) strong reversal in the mesospheric zonal flow from winter to summer; (b) temporary breakdown in the winter westerlies in late January; (c) reversal in the meridional flow between 40,000 and 70,000 feet from winter to summer; (d) at least three meridional circulation cells in the vertical; (e) large temperature fluctuations in the mesosphere but good correlation, in the mean, with the ARDC Model Atmosphere.

Review of U. S. Meteorological Rocket Network Activities and Results

“…Mugu, California, in the course of 17 months are illustrated in fig. 16 [6]. This shows the summerly east and winterly west wind regimes with up to 250 knots wind speed at around 45 to 65 km.…”

Development and Testing of a Rocket-Based Sensor for Atmospheric Sensing Using an Unmanned Aerial System

“…Meteorological sounding by rockets (rocketsondes) has been utilized in the past for lower and upper stratospheric atmospheric monitoring [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Most current rocket sounding relates to the probing of the upper atmosphere [ 16 , 18 , 19 ]. Rockets provide a simple way to access higher portions of the atmosphere.…”