Parameterization of Nitric Oxide Emissions in the Thermosphere
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO), a minor species in the thermosphere, is an important indicator of energy balance. It also has the lowest ionization threshold so is the terminal ion in the ionospheric E-region. Discrepancies between observations and modeled results challenge current understanding of ionospheric and thermospheric energy budget especially during geophysical events. Work in the recent decades has significantly improved our understanding of the NO chemistry and in particular its relationship to energy inputs, such as the role of the excited state of nitrogen, N2(A), in the NO reactions. We update the NO chemical reactions and introduce N2(A) in the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM) to study NO density and cooling in the lower thermosphere. The results are compared with the TIMED SABER and GUVI measurements to identify the relative contribution from solar irradiance and geomagnetic activity to 5.3 µm emission by NO. A parameterization scheme is proposed to be used in a global circulation model.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFMSA53A2434L
- Keywords:
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- 0355 Thermosphere: composition and chemistry;
- ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTUREDE: 3369 Thermospheric dynamics;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSESDE: 2419 Ion chemistry and composition;
- IONOSPHEREDE: 2427 Ionosphere/atmosphere interactions;
- IONOSPHERE