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Krankowsky, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Krankowsky, D..

23 records · Page 2

Gas densities near 230 km from orbital drag and mass spectrometer measurements - A comparison

Perigee density data near 230 km for the Aeros satellite are analyzed for more than 1000 orbits. A comparison method for such data was developed which is based on the observed rate of change of orbital period as compared with the orbital decay computed from mass-spectrometer data obtained at discrete positions along the orbit. In general, the method confirms the good agreement of the average ratio of in-situ and orbit-drag-inferred perigee densities. In the case of Aeros, absolute densities measured by the NATE mass spectrometer are confirmed.

Roemar, M.↗

Intercomparison of neutral composition measurements from the satellite Esro 4, Aeros A, Aeros B, and Atmosphere Explorer C

Number-density data obtained at orbital 'crossover' points with the neutral-gas mass spectrometers aboard the Esro 4, Aeros A, AE-C, and Aeros B satellites are intercompared. All the mass spectrometers were designed to measure the ambient number densities of atomic oxygen, molecular nitrogen, helium, and argon. It is found that the agreement for N2 and O is satisfactory within the experimental errors and that the He measurements exhibit unexpectedly large discrepancies far outside the error range. Calibration and instrument sources of error are considered.

Trinks, H.↗

A comparison of measured and inferred temperatures from AEROS-B

The neutral composition and the temperature data obtained from the AEROS-B Neutral Atmosphere Temperature Experiment (NATE) and the Neutral and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NIMS) are compared, and the general validity of inferring gas temperatures from N2 and Ar density profiles is examined by comparing them with the in situ measured values of the neutral kinetic temperature (NATE). At times serious discrepancies are noted between the inferred and the measured temperature. This is particularly evident during periods of increased magnetic activity when the normally observed latitudinal variations are apparently modulated by waves propagating from the polar region to low latitudes. Under these conditions the N2 and Ar densities and temperature oscillations are usually out of phase, and the temperatures inferred from N2 and Ar at a given point become meaningless.

Chandra, S.↗