The Antarctic atmosphere as seen by satellites

• Published in: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 1977
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1977.0087; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rstb.1977.0087

A brief review is given of satellite observations of the atmosphere which are relevant to Antarctic studies. Aspects of the behaviour of the Southern Hemisphere during winter are described using Nimbus selective chopper radiometer and pressure modulator radiometer temperature sounding data which extend to mesopause levels. Emphasis is placed upon the new measurements of the mesosphere, and monthly mean Southern Hemisphere maps are given for various heights in the mesosphere during August 1975 and for the months July-September 1975 for the top level near the mesopause. Planetary waves in the Southern Hemisphere are found to propagate to the mesopause with diminution of the temperature amplitude above about the stratopause, and tilt westward with increasing height and decreasing latitude.