High Time Resolution Thermospheric Temperature and Wind Studies in the Arctic.
Abstract
This research program was initiated to develop state-of-the art instrumentation to study the dynamics of the polar thermosphere with high time resolution. The technique involves the measurement of Doppler profiles as well as wavelength shifts in various optical emissions to study the upper and lower thermosphere. Initially, a low light level television system (image orthicon) was coupled to a 150 mm aperture Fabry-Perot index-of refraction scanning system. Acquisition of aurorally associated fringes in fractions of a second were obtained, however, lack of electronic stability in these older T.V. systems precluded the routine analysis of the data. A subsequent attempt to use a solid state intensified CID, T.V. camera indicated promise, but the lack of sensitivity limited high time resolutions data to very bright events. Rather than continue this direction, emphasis was switched to obtaining high quality temperature and wind measurements in the index-of-refraction scanning mode simultaneously in the upper and lower thermosphere. This was coupled with the installation and operation of a new piezo-electric rapid scanning system to assist in the investigation of thermospheric neutral (6300 OI) and ion (7320 OII), and D-Region (OH) dynamics. The results of the analyses of much of these data have been reported in various scientific meetings and published in the scientific literature. Other studies are still in progress. The initial results show the presence of gradients and divergences in the winds in both the high and low thermosphere in response to magnetic activity. From 44 nights of data collected prior to spring 1983, The dynamical behavior has been investigated both on individual nights and as a statistical average.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA150114
Entities
People
- G. G. Sivjee
Organizations
- University of Alaska Fairbanks