Diurnal variations of the refractive index gradient variance in the eastern regions of Russia

Abstract

Diurnal variations of the standard deviation σg of the refractive index vertical gradient gn in the lower 300-meter atmospheric layer are first analyzed for the vast area of Eastern Siberia and Far East by using observation data obtained from 30 aerological stations for 10 years. This statistics is most variable in the Far North areas in the spring-summer period. The diurnal cycle of σg is most diverse (in terms of both its character and amplitude) in the moderate climatic belt of the territory under study. Here, the maximum diurnal variability of σg is observed in the summer and then, in the winter time. Diurnal variations of σg in this region have significant amplitudes that are in many regions comparable with the amplitudes of its interseasonal variations.