Sounding rocket program aeronomy. Upper Polar Atmosphere Project. Measurements by the infrared spectrometer AB 3
Abstract
A rocket-borne grating spectrometer system for measuring the fine structure of the 63 micron atomic oxygen transition is described. Thermodynamic equilibria and water vapor concentrations can be determined from these measurements. The system employs an Ebert-Fastie spectrometer. The low signal-to-noise ratio associated with the very low intensities studied led to the use of He cooling. A chopper filter system with ac amplification was employed. Intensity profile measurements lead to the conclusion that fine structure atomic oxygen levels are not in local thermodynamic equilibrium throughout the thermosphere. Upper limits of the lower thermosphere water vapor concentrations are deduced from the measured intensities
- Publication:
-
Final Report Wuppertal Univ. (Germany
- Pub Date:
- June 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980wupu.rept.....G
- Keywords:
-
- Ebert Spectrometers;
- Polar Regions;
- Rocket Sounding;
- Upper Atmosphere;
- Energy Budgets;
- Infrared Spectrometers;
- Monatomic Gases;
- Oxygen;
- Thermosphere;
- Water Vapor;
- Geophysics