way
160,000 feec shows persistent easterly winds.
Extrapslatisa af these data to the
Johnston Islani region, plus two pre~Orange peasurenents, provided data for
forecasc winds.
Verification was provided by interpolation between the chais
wind soundings approximately 14 hours before and 12 hours after shot tine.
The
TFesulting prediction for Orange was a mean wind from 005 degrees at a speed of
60 knots.
feet.
This represents a mean wind for the layer beteea 155,000 and 165,000
The actual wind was interpolated to be 065 degrees and 70 xnots.
So vind measurewents have been made in equatorial regions for the beight
interval from 200,000 to 300,000 feet.
Some limited and inconsistent data have
been derived from observation of noctilucent clouds at high latitudes and fros
reflection of radio waves on meteor trails.6:9+10
be suitable for a point location forecast.
These data did not appear to
Sama data have been obtained from
observations in this altitude range by following chaff, saoke puffs, and sodius
as targets.
These were taken at White Sands and Tonopah test ranges; the Tonopah
data represents three test rounds of che Sandia Deacon-arrow system described
here.
These observations were taken in May with easterly winds of 50 to 100
knots observed, although variations from these values were quite apparent.
Direct extrapolation of these mid-latitude measurements would be hazardous because of uncertainty as to latitude wariation.
Studies of atwospberic radiation balance indicate the peak temperature
region near 160,000 feet with a ainimm near 260,000 feet (approximate Teak altitude).
The area between is thought to be characterized by turbulent sotions
and large diurnal, seasonal, and geographical wariations due to the negative
temperature lapse rate with height.!?
These studies indicate that the probable
top of the lower altitude easterlies is near 260,000 feet, but for equatorial
latitudes chis is unverified.©
Theoretical explanation of atmospheric tides requires that the forces
exerted by these oscillations on the high-altitude circulation increase with
altitude, accompanied by decreasing latitude.
Resonance between a free period
in the earth's atmosphere and the gravitational aod thermal influence of the
gun resulc in a strong semidiurnal periodicity.
It has been postulated, on
the basis of winds deriwed from radio probing of the ionosphere, that this
senidiurual force at 330,000 feet (100 ka) couprises as mich as 40 percent of
che total wind vector.
If this is true, considerable variation would exist
bercween day and night winds in direction and speed, with a clockwise turning
during the diurnal period.
169
SES