Atmospheric holes and small comets

Details Atmospheric holes and small comets Atmospheric holes and small comets

Feb 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993rvgeo..31....1f&link_type=abstract

Reviews of Geophysics (ISSN 8755-1209), vol. 31, no. 1, p. 1-28.

Physics

Geophysics

30

Auroral Zones, Comets, Dayglow, Diurnal Variations, Dynamics Explorer 1 Satellite, Ultraviolet Absorption, Absorption Cross Sections, Aeronomy, Atmospheric Chemistry, Chemical Composition, Clouds (Meteorology), Comets, Earth, Atmosphere, Ultraviolet, Wavelengths, Dayglow, Ice, Satellite Observations, Photometry, Description, Motion, Vaporization, Diurnal Variations, Clouds, Water, Altitude, Electrostatic Effects, Ionosphere, Emissions, Radiometry, Microwaves, Hydrogen, Heating, Water Vapor, Deposition, Aero

Scientific paper

Global images of Earth's UV dayglow as gained with an imaging photometer on board Dynamics Explorer 1 exhibit transient decreases, or atmospheric holes, in the dayglow intensities over areas with diameters about 50 km. Features of these atmospheric holes include (1) preferential motion in the east-to-west direction across the sunlit face of Earth, (2) similar diurnal variations in occurrence rates as those for radar meteors, (3) correlation of the occurrence rates with the nonshower rates as determined with forward scatter radar, and (4) larger angular diameters for these atmospheric holes when the spacecraft approaches Earth during its perigee passes. These atmospheric holes are interpreted in terms of obscuration of the dayglow by water clouds from the disruption and subsequent vaporization of small comets at low altitudes above the atmosphere. Supporting evidence for the existence of these small comets is given by their telescopic sighting at greater altitudes before disruption and the detection of water bursts in Earth's upper atmosphere. The small-comet hypothesis and its relationship to geophysical, lunar, and interplanetary phenomena are discussed.

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