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Decrease in Upper-atmosphere Rotation Rate at Heights above 350 km

Nature volume 233, pages 325–326 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

THE average rate of rotation of the upper atmosphere can be evaluated from the small changes in inclinations of satellite orbits to the equator1, and results obtained by analysing about thirty orbits have indicated2 that the rotation rate increases from about 1.1 revolutions day−1 at a height of 200 km to about 1.4 revolutions day−1 at a height of 350 km. Various explanations of this “super-rotation” have been proposed3–9, in terms of aerodynamic or electrodynamic theory, or both.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hampshire

    D. G. KING-HELE

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  1. D. G. KING-HELE
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KING-HELE, D. Decrease in Upper-atmosphere Rotation Rate at Heights above 350 km. Nature 233, 325–326 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/233325a0

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