| Two rocket probes, designed to measure middle atmospheric turbulence and ion properties, have been analyzed, built, and flown. Probe measurements obtained during the MAE-3 Campaign at the Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska, during March-April 1985, and during the MAC/Epsilon Campaign at the Andoya Rocket Range, Norway, during October-November 1987, have been reduced and analyzed.;Nose tip probes, designed to measure electron current and density fluctuations during the rocket's ascent, provided data which were used to characterize wave structure and turbulence in the middle atmosphere. Large-scale (;Parachute-borne Gerdien condenser probes were flown to obtain measurements of polar electrical conductivity, ion mobility, and number density. Finite element analysis was used to study the design and operation of the Gerdien condenser, including the effects of fringing electric fields and flow restriction. Results from the analysis indicate the need to reduce previously deduced ion mobility values by about a factor of two, and a similar factor of two increase is necessary in the ion density values. Both of these corrections can be applied to present and past data sets to enhance the agreement between Gerdien condenser measurements and other theoretical and laboratory results. |
