Concept information
Preferred term
NATE
Definition
- The Neutral Atmosphere Temperature Experiment (NATE) was designed to measure the kinetic temperature of the neutral gas at the spacecraft. Its design was based upon a technique first employed on the San Marco III (a and b) satellites, and later the Aeros I and II satellites (Ref). The measurement approach is based upon the concept that the neutral particles, in this case N2, are in thermal equilibrium, and hence a measure of their velocity distribution permits a kinetic temperature calculation. The desirability of measuring the local kinetic tempera- ture seems obvious - it is a basic parameter in atmospheric studies, and it reflects local conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium and hence the local dynamic situation. Most previous temperature measurements have in fact been derived from density measurements, from the density scale height, from ion temperature, or optically by observation of line widths, Recent Aeros data analysis reveals temperature derived from density does not always faithfully reflect the true temperature of the gas particularly at times when a geomagnetic disturbance is influencing the atmosphere (Ref). The NATE also provided measurement of the composition, when commanded into the appropriate mode and, for the first time, measurement of the local wind: AE-C Vertical motions AE-D, E Vertical motions and horizontal (normal to orbit plane) winds [Summary provided by NASA] (en)
Broader concept
- Particle Detectors (en)
URI
https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/fbb455d3-de90-43dc-b678-48f463461740
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