Thermospheric extensions of the classical expansion functions for semidiurnal tides

Solutions to the thermospheric tidal equations are described that define the extensions into the thermosphere of normalized wind and temperature structures associated with the (2, 2), (2, 3), (2, 4), and (2, 5) semidiurnal propagating tidal modes. Sample figures are presented that illustrate the degree of alteration of vertical structures with latitude and the change in horizontal shapes with height, corresponding to semidiurnal oscillations in northerly, westerly, and vertical velocity and temperature in the thermosphere. Additional figures and tables covering the 80‐ to 400‐km altitude region for five levels of solar activity at 6° latitude increments are available on microfiche for potential users. The structures can be used to extend meteor wind (80–100 km) and partial reflection drift (60–100 km) measurements to heights above 100 km for consistency checks with tidal winds and temperatures from Thomson scatter measurements at possibly different latitudes, or to simultaneously fit data covering these height regions for modeling purposes. Supplementary figures and tables are available with entire article on microfiche. Order from American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20002. Document J82‐003; $1.00 Payment must accompany order.