Abstract
A COMMUNICATION with the above title was recently published by McCormick et al.1. This work gave, for October 29, 1965, a light return of about 10 counts per pulse at heights from 75 km to 125 km and, for October 31, about 1.5 counts per pulse at heights from 75 km to 100 km. If one takes the system parameters given and assumes 3 per cent photomultiplier quantum efficiency, 30 per cent receiving system transmission and 80 per cent atmospheric transmission, then the 10 counts per pulse corresponds to a return 150 times greater than that which would be given by Rayleigh scattering from molecules at 75 km, and 105 greater at 125 km.
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McCormick, P. D., Poultney, S. K., van Wijk, U., Alley, C. O., Bettinger, R. T., and Perschy, J. A., Nature, 209, 798 (1966).
Bain, W. C., and Sandford, M. C. W., to be published in J. Atmos. Terr. Phys.
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BAIN, W., SANDFORD, M. Backscattering from the Upper Atmosphere (75–160 km) detected by Optical Radar. Nature 210, 826 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/210826a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/210826a0
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