Aeronomy of auroral and airglow emissions
Abstract
This research project involves obtaining field and laboratory measurements for quantitative information with which to describe basic aeronomic phenomena and processes pertaining to Air Force missions and capabilities. During previous research, we developed a Fabry-Perot interferometer system that can measure weak auroral and airglow emissions. Using this system, we showed that, by measuring auroral emissions, the adequacy of an atmospheric model for predicting the atomic oxygen density could be determined. We also measured weak OH Meinel airglow emissions and demonstrated their application to study the propagation of gravity waves through the mesopause region. We improved on that technique by developing a charge coupled device (CCD) camera system that can take pictures of both the OH Meinel emission, which occurs near 85 km, and the O2 Atmospheric band emission, which occurs near 94 km. Measurements of both emissions simultaneously will enable vertical propagation of atmospheric gravity waves to be characterized.
- Publication:
-
Aerospace Sponsored Research
- Pub Date:
- December 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991aesr.nasa..119H
- Keywords:
-
- Aeronomy;
- Airglow;
- Atmospheric Models;
- Auroras;
- Fabry-Perot Interferometers;
- Gravity Waves;
- Hydroxyl Emission;
- Wave Propagation;
- Cameras;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Gas Density;
- Mathematical Models;
- Mesopause;
- Oxygen Atoms;
- Geophysics