Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Upper Atmosphere Zonal Winds

Abstract

ANALYSIS of the changes in inclination of Earth satellite orbits has indicated1 that the average rotation rate of the upper atmosphere increases from about 1.1 revolutions day−1 at 200 km to about 1.4 revolutions day−1 at 350 km, and then decreases to about 0.8 revolutions day−1 at 500 km. These values represent averages over all local times. Recently, however, with the aid of accurate observations from the Hewitt cameras at Malvern and Edinburgh, it has become possible to determine upper atmosphere zonal winds over shorter intervals of local time—between 4 and 8 h, rather than 24 h.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. King-Hele, D. G., Nature, 233, 325 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. King-Hele, D. G., and Winterbottom, A. N., Royal Aircraft Establishment Technical Report 71202 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hiller, H., Planet. Space Sci., 20, 891 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. King-Hele, D. G., and Scott, D. W., Planet. Space Sci., 15, 1913 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Rees, D., Roper, R. G., Lloyd, K. H., and Low, C. H., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 271, 53 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bedinger, J. F., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 683 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ackerman, M., and Van Hemelrijck, E., J. Geophys. Res., 76, 3162 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lloyd, K. H., Low, C. H., McAvaney, B. J., Rees, D., and Roper, R. G., Planet. Space Sci., 20, 761 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. King-Hele, D. G., Royal Aircraft Establishment Technical Report 72062 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bhavsar, P. D., and Ramanujarao, K., Space Research VIII, 655 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rosenberg, N. W., Space Research VIII, 673 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Woodrum, A., Justus, C. G., and Roper, R. G., J. Geophys. Res., 74, 4099 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. King-Hele, D. G., and Walker, D. M. C., Planet. Space Sci., 19, 1637 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Groves, G. V., J. Brit. Interplan. Soc., 22, 285 (1969).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rees, D., J. Brit. Interplan. Soc., 24, 233 (1971).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Cole, K. D., Planet. Space Sci., 19, 59 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

KING-HELE, D. Upper Atmosphere Zonal Winds. Nature 237, 451–452 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/237451a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/237451a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing