Airglow Imaging Studies of Natural and Artificially Induced Ionospheric Disturbances.
Abstract
A low light level, image intensified airglow monitoring system has been developed for ground-based studies of 6300A airglow characteristics of equatorial plasma depletions and rocket exhaust induced ionospheric holes. The system was designed for narrow band interference filters (6 A FWHP) with interchangeable all-sky (180 deg) and narrow field (60 deg) lenses; it records images photographically using a standard 35mm camera. In addition to the morphology features capable of being extracted directly from airglow photographs, the field test data were used to investigate various image processing techniques that could yield quantitative, photometric characteristics for the effects recorded. The two week equatorial campaign resulted in sufficient data to study airglow depletion occurrence rates, spatial extents, alignments, drift speeds, depths and edge effects. The rocket hole data provided estimates of high altitude diffusion rates and in-situ values for photochemical reaction rates related to natural and perturbation processes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA114369
Entities
People
- Harlan Spence
- Jeffrey Baumgardner
- Michael Mendillo
Organizations
- Boston University