Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Backscattering from the Upper Atmosphere (75–160 km) detected by Optical Radar

Nature volume 210, page 826 (1966)Cite this article

Abstract

A COMMUNICATION with the above title was recently published by McCormick et al.1. This work gave, for October 29, 1965, a light return of about 10 counts per pulse at heights from 75 km to 125 km and, for October 31, about 1.5 counts per pulse at heights from 75 km to 100 km. If one takes the system parameters given and assumes 3 per cent photomultiplier quantum efficiency, 30 per cent receiving system transmission and 80 per cent atmospheric transmission, then the 10 counts per pulse corresponds to a return 150 times greater than that which would be given by Rayleigh scattering from molecules at 75 km, and 105 greater at 125 km.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McCormick, P. D., Poultney, S. K., van Wijk, U., Alley, C. O., Bettinger, R. T., and Perschy, J. A., Nature, 209, 798 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bain, W. C., and Sandford, M. C. W., to be published in J. Atmos. Terr. Phys.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radio and Space Research Station, Slough

    W. C. BAIN & M. C. W. SANDFORD

Authors
  1. W. C. BAIN
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. C. W. SANDFORD
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BAIN, W., SANDFORD, M. Backscattering from the Upper Atmosphere (75–160 km) detected by Optical Radar. Nature 210, 826 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/210826a0

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/210826a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing