Using the Far-Infrared to Understand the Thermosphere
Abstract
Atomic oxygen is the dominant constituent of the thermospheres of the Earth, Venus, and Mars. It is formed by photodissociation of a major molecular species from the lower atmosphere of each planet. Remote sensing of O greatly increases the amount of data available from each atmosphere. Several parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used to sense O, but the far-infrared line at 63~μm has several advantages, which we will discuss. The greatest advantage to using this line is the ability to resolve the tidal structure of the thermosphere. Using broadband radiometry to measure the limb radiance of this spectral feature will be discussed in the context of the OPIE (Oxygen Profiling Infrared Experiment) instrument. Some thoughts on the optimal orbit for these instruments with be presented.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005AGUFMSA51B1140P
- Keywords:
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- 0355 Thermosphere: composition and chemistry;
- 0360 Radiation: transmission and scattering;
- 0394 Instruments and techniques