Barbara K. Ching
Published: 1969
Total Pages: 29
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The temperature of the upper atmosphere, as observed by satellite-drag analysis, lags the maximum of the 27-day variation in solar decimeter flux by about 1 day. This time lag is now generally interpreted to be an atmospheric reaction time in response to the varying solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) heating. The EUV flux has been observed from satellites to be closely proportional to the decimeter flux. A reexamination of Roemer's time-lag data from six satellites indicates that the apparent dependence on local time seen by Roemer is probably not significant in view of the large uncertainties. The present analysis examines the theoretical evidence for a 1.4-day time lag. This is accomplished by means of a simple analytic solution of the heat conduction equation in a suitably averaged atmospheric model. (Author).