Characteristics of wavelike fluctuations in Dynamics Explorer neutral composition data

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Abstract
Wavelike fluctuations in neutral composition data obtained with the neutral atmospheric composition system quadrupole mass spectrometer carried aboard the Dyamics Explorer (DE 2) satellite are a maximum in the vicinity of the magnetic poles. Typical rms amplitudes near the poles for N2, O, He, and Ar fluctuations in the 400‐ to 4000‐km‐wavelength band are found to be 11%, 6%, 6%, and 20%, respectively. Amplitudes near the equator are roughly a third of the polar amplitudes, and activity in the 50‐ to 400‐km‐wavelength band is roughly 20% of the longer‐wavelength activity. Wave amplitudes maximizes in the midnight and early morning magnetic local time sectors and increase with magnetic activity. The lack of a marked decrease in short‐wavelength activity in relation to long‐wavelength activity between pole and equator may indicate the presence of ducted propagation modes or local sources of activity.

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