Abstract
FROM the earliest data on the periods of satellites it was not clear whether the fluctuations in period were due to anything more than the random oscillations of an irregularly shaped body. Changes in the slope of the period-time curves of Sputniks 2 and 3 occurred over an interval of a few days, and I remarked that motion of the perigee due to the rotation of the orbital plane seemed to account for the suddenness of the change more easily than the slow drift of the perigee towards the equator. The frequency of these changes seemed related to the crossings of the perigee between the day and night sides of the Earth at three-monthly intervals, suggesting a diurnal variation in air density. As the analysis of data continued, more changes were evident and a periodicity of just less than one month has now been established, and this Parkyn associates with an 8-hr, density variation. The Smithsonian Sputnik 3 data, which he presents, show the variation in the period-time curve to be a very smooth oscillation in comparison with earlier data. This is evidence in favour of the phenomenon being a tidal oscillation, and also shows that the effect of the shape of the satellite is mainly averaged out.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GROVES, G. Atmospheric Tides and Earth Satellite Observations. Nature 183, 1047 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/1831047a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1831047a0
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.