THE THERMISTOR MEASUREMENT OF TEMPERATURE IN THE 30-65 KM ATMOSPHERIC REGION

Various rocket-borne temperature sounding instruments are utilized throughout the world to obtain atmospheric temperature profiles in the 30-65 km region. These instruments are referenced, along with the theoretical papers related to them. The physical considerations entering into the temperature sonde design and the solution to the heat transfer equation for the spherical bead thermistor, with either a long-lead or thin-film mounting, to obtain corrections to the observed thermistor temperatures are presented and each of the terms of the correction equation is discussed. These are time-lag, aerodynamic heating, lead-wire conduction, solar radiation, RF radiation, ohmic heating, and long-wave radiation corrections to the observed thermistor temperatures. Typical observed and corrected atmospheric temperature profiles are presented for three different temperature sondes. (Author)