A pair of satellites in the same earth orbit but separated by about 60 grad in phase will have a radio path between them that intersects the atmosphere continuously. With a coherent transponder between satellites at a frequency of 5 ghz, changes of 3 cm in the phase path can be recorded, giving a sensitivity to changes in atmospheric density of 1:18 000. With a set of six satellites to sense density at five levels, sufficient resolution is acquired to define the vertical density profile for weather prediction equations. Three such systems in polar orbit will give the necessary world-wide resolution every 12 hours.
Sensing the earth's atmosphere with occultation satellites
Proceedings of the IEEE ; 57 , 4 ; 458-467
1969
10 Seiten, 18 Bilder, 15 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES AND THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE
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