Observations of wave-driven fluctuations of OH nightglow emissin from Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland

OH nightglow emissions from the (6, 2) band were observed during February 12-14, 1986, at Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland. The data were analyzed using time series analysis techniques to determine ∊=(∆I/I)/(∆T/T), where ∆I and ∆T represent correlated fluctuations from the mean OH intensity (I) and temperature (T) in various frequency bands. For correlated fluctuations due to measurement error, ||∊||<1, while for correlated fluctuations caused by atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) that pass through the OH emission layer the measured ||∊|| should be generally greater than 1.5. While some of the observed OH intensity-temperature fluctuations were correlated and had an ||∊||<1, two correlated intensity-temperature waves with periods of 4 and 2 hours were seen with an ||∊||>1.5. The 4-hour (2-hour) period wave had an ||∊|| equal to 3.1+/-1.1(1.6+/-0.5) and a phase angle, between the intensity and temperature components, of 5°+23° (40°+20°C). These results are consistent with a recent theoretical model for the passage of AGWs through an OH emission layer. Agreement is closest for the 4-hour (2-hour) period wave when the layer is peaked at 87 km (83 km) and the O scale height is -2.0 (-4.0km).