On the influx of small comets into the Earth's upper atmosphere I. Observations
Abstract
Images of the earth's dayglow emissions at ultraviolet wavelengths, primarily those of atomic oxygen at 130.4 nm, reveal regions of transient intensity decreases to ∼ 5% to 20% of surrounding values over areas estimated to be ∼ 2,000 km². The duration of these transient decreases in intensities is ∼ several minutes. Approximately 10 of these events occur each minute in the dayside upper atmosphere. The diurnal variation of the rate of occurrence is qualitatively similar to that for radar meteors.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 1986
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL013i004p00303
- Bibcode:
- 1986GeoRL..13..303F
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Entry;
- Comets;
- Dayglow;
- Upper Atmosphere;
- Dynamics Explorer 1 Satellite;
- Oxygen Spectra;
- Time Response;
- Transient Response;
- Ultraviolet Photometry;
- Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Evolution of the atmosphere;
- Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Middle atmosphere-composition and chemistry;
- Planetology: Solid Surface Planets and Satellites: Atmospheric composition and chemistry;
- Planetology: Comets and Small Bodies: Atmospheric and ionospheric composition and chemistry