Wavelike fluctuations in neutral composition data obtained with the neutral atmospheric composition system quadrupole mass spectrometer carried aboard the Dynamics Explorer (DE 2) satellite are a maximum in the vicinity of the magnetic poles. Typical rms amplitudes near the poles for N2, O, He, and Ar fluctuations in the 400- to 4000-km-wavelength band are found to be 11%, 6%, 6%, and 20%, respectively. Amplitudes near the equator are roughly a third of the polar amplitudes, and activity in the 50- to 400-km-wavelength band is roughly 20% of the longer-wavelength activity. Wave amplitudes maximizes in the midnight and early morning magnetic local time sectors and increase with magnetic activity. The lack of a marked decrease in short-wavelength activity in relation to long-wavelength activity between pole and equator may indicate the presence of ducted propagation modes or local sources of activity. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1987