70-Mile-High Wind Study By Radar

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 1

70-Mile-High Wind Study By Radar

University of Canterbury upper - atmosphere physics groups could usefully develop the study of winds high up by radar tracing of meteors, said Dr. T. R. Kaiser, an eminent authority in this field, yesterday. Dr. Kaiser, an Australian, is now reader in physics at the University of Sheffield, which has a notable upperatmosphere research group. He is here for a week on an Erskine grant.to discuss this work. The whole subject of interplanetary matter was assuming increasing importance to many fields of science, Dr. Kaiser said, but more basic information was essential. International Repute The Canterbury work, begun by Dr. C. D. Ellyett, had international repute, notably because scientists had “painstakingly recorded everything that has come in over many years.” In atmosphere studies work in one place was often different from another, and so it was inMprtant to build up.

the whole picture, said Dr. Kaiser. A few years ago Canterbury recorded double the usual number of meteors. This was still unexplained but accepted because Canterbury had an almost unique record in keeping its. equipment stable. There was also some confirmation from Canada. Dr. Kaiser said a surprisingly large number of people thought they actually saw meteors or shooting stars. In fact they saw the glowing gases produced by a particle often about the size of a pin head. lonised Gases The glowing column of gases left in its wake could be seen sometimes with the naked eye, sometimes by telescope. Radar traced the ionised gases in the column. By these radar techniques which were well known in Canterbury, a useful study could be made of the effects of winds 50 to 70 miles up on meteors and meteorite partides. Again the “absolutely constant sensitivity of the Canterbury equipment” would be most valuable. Dr. Kaiser said. £•