The response of middle-latitudinal atmospheric temperature on the solar activity during various seasons

Using data on temperature of the atmosphere at heights of 30–100 km measured by rocket and spectrophotometric methods in middle latitudes we study the altitude distributions of the temperature response on solar activity. The large seasonal variations of the response are observed at heights ∼ 80–95 km (winter ∼ − (5 ± 1.7) K/100 sfu, summer ∼ + (8 ± 1.7) K/100 sfu), minimal-at heights ∼55–70 km (winter ∼ + (2 ± 0.4) K/100 sfu, summer ∼ − (1 ± 0.4) K/100 sfu). The height, where the response of the middle atmosphere temperature to solar activity is close to zero, varies within a year in a range of 55–70 km (spring–summer of ∼70 km, autumn–winter of ∼55 km). Essential seasonal distinction of the temperature response in the region of mesopause to solar activity is obviously caused by peculiarities of the altitude distributions of some chemically active gas components and by changes of the Sun UV radiation in many respects determining the altitude distribution of temperature. The empirical model of the middle atmosphere temperature response to solar activity is presented describing the altitude and seasonal dependence of the response.