Spectroscopic observations of the night airglow from 3000 A to 9200 A

Spectroscopic measurements of the night airglow were taken at mid-latitude over a period of four months. The use of intensified CCD spectrographs allowed simultaneous data to be taken from 3000 to 9200 A in 3300 contiguous spectral elements with a resolution (full width at half max.) of 6 to 15 A. The average intensities for a 6.5 hour integration period on March 16, 1991 of the O2 Herzbert I, Chamberlain, Herzberg II, and Atmospheric (0-1) emissions were 230 + or - 20 R, 80 + or - 10 R, 80 + or - 40 R, and 350 + or - 20 R respectively. For the OH Meinel (9-4), (8-3), (7-2), (7-3), (6-2), (5-1), (4-0) emissions the intensities were 450 + or - 50 R, 450 + or - 20 R, 90 + or - 20 R, 1620 + or - 200 R, 970 + or - 50 R, 680 + or - 15 R, and 190 + or - 20 R respectively. The OI 5577 and 6300 A emissions were 320 + or - 10 R and 160 + or - 10 R respectively. These simultaneous emission intensities were compared, with an atmospheric model which revealed that the O2 (A cu Sigma, A' cu delta, (c sup 1)Sigma, (b sup 1)Sigma) states and the OH(X(exp 2)II) state, and dynamic intensity fluctuations of their related emission features provided independent confirmation of the conclusion that the O2(A cu Sigma, A' cu Delta, (c sup 1)Sigma) states and the OH(X(exp 2)II) state were heavily quenched.