Exploration of the Upper Atmosphere by Meteoritic Techniques

Abstract

Meteor refers to the visual, photographic, or other electromagnetic phenomena associated with the passage of a small particle through the atmosphere. The particle sizes involved in the phenomenon depend greatly upon the velocity of the particles. When meteoroids are sufficiently large to withstand the ablation arising from interaction with the earth's atmosphere and that falls to the surface in sizeable pieces, they are known as meteorites. The phenomenon is essentially known as meteorite fall. The chapter describes the visual techniques for the observation of meteors. The techniques considered for observing meteors include photographic method, meteor spectra, radio methods, and micro-meteorites. The chapter also outlines the theory of the meteoric process, its basic principles, and relationships. It then presents the results concerning the upper atmosphere that includes data about densities, temperatures, pressures, and variations in upper atmosphere. Finally, circulation in upper atmosphere is illustrated.