Evaluation of middle atmosphere temperature and wind measurements and and their disturbance characteristics by meteorological rockets

Abstract. It is necessary to carry out the in-situ detection based on the meteorological rocket to deepen the cognitive level of the middle atmosphere environment, though there is still a lack of systematic research on the data accuracy and the physical mechanism affecting the measurement results, which restricts the effective use of rocket data. Based on thermistor and Beidou positioning, combined with temperature correction technology, middle atmosphere temperature and wind measurements from 20–60 km are obtained in northwest China by two meteorological rockets. The detection results are compared with satellite, empirical model and reanalysis data, and the error analysis theory is carried out in combination with the of the drop sounding and atmospheric disturbance characteristics. The results show that the data quality of the rocket detection is ideal, and the variation trend of temperature and wind profile with altitude is consistent with other data. The difference comes from the deviation of the matching data in time and space and the excessive measurement error in the initial fall stage. Also, it is found that the instability of the parachute causes poor positioning data quality and fast falling speed, and eventually cause the measurement error at the corresponding height to be significantly larger. Besides, the profile fluctuation of the first detection is more obvious, which is caused by the fragmentation of the high-altitude gravity wave. Wave dissipation leads to the weakening of atmospheric stability and the generation of denser small-scale layered structures on the profile, making significant wind field changes at the height below through the momentum deposited.