Measurement and application of the O II 61.7 nm dayglow

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Airglow And Aurora, Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Thermosphere: Composition And Chemistry, Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Radiation: Transmission And Scattering, Ionosphere: Equatorial Ionosphere, Ionosphere: Instruments And Techniques

Scientific paper

We present the first published measurement of an altitude profile of the O II 61.7 nm emission, a dayglow feature that can be used to monitor photoionization of O in the lower thermosphere. This photoionization process also results in the O II 83.4 nm emission that, unlike 61.7 nm, is resonantly scattered by ionospheric O+. Although ionospheric characteristics can be inferred from the shape and intensity of 83.4 nm altitude profiles, the interpretation can result in nonunique ion density profiles if the intensity of this source of photons that illuminates the ionosphere from below is unknown. The 61.7 nm emission provides a means to test the accuracy of current models used to calculate the intensity of that source. The data presented here were collected by the Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System from the International Space Station on 29 October 2009. The measured 61.7 nm profiles show a steeper drop in intensity below 260 km, where the emission peaks, compared to our model calculations. While the current analysis cannot resolve if the discrepancy is caused by inaccuracies in our model thermospheric composition, photoabsorption cross sections, or both, a 15%-20% increase in the effective O2 photoabsorption at 61.7 nm produces the best qualitative match to the measured profile. Ostensibly, 61.7 nm measurements could replace these model calculations as a more direct measure of the intensity of the 83.4 nm photon source region. In either case, accurate specification of local thermospheric neutral species remains an important component of daytime ionospheric remote sensing.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Measurement and application of the O II 61.7 nm dayglow does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Measurement and application of the O II 61.7 nm dayglow, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Measurement and application of the O II 61.7 nm dayglow will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-912411

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.