TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS IN THE 30- TO 40-KILOMETER REGION

Abstract

When comparing rocketsonde and balloonsonde (radiosonde) temperature data, one notes systematic differences at levels of 25 km and above that increase with height. During the past 10 yr, systematic errors in the rocketsonde have been largely eliminated (at least for the region from 20 to 45 km), but little attention has been paid to the balloonsonde sensor. A study of temperature data for June 1967 suggests about half the difference is due to infrared cooling of the balloonsonde thermistor and much of the remaining difference may be due to the thermistor riding up through the wake of a balloon cooled by radiative and adiabatic processes. These errors make balloonsonde temperature data above 30 km unsuitable for many types of study.