High Resolution Measurements of OH Infrared Airglow Structure.
Abstract
Disturbances in the normally calm atmosheric airglow layer, which cause bright and dark bands or stripes to appear, have been observed. These disturbances are attributed to gravity waves propagating through the atmosphere. An instrument capable of resolving the temporal, spatial, and spectral attributes of OH infrared emissions was designed to gather quantitative data on airglow structure. An optically compensated interferometer spectrometer was chosen as the basic instrument to measure this phenomenon. Spatial data were obtained by matching the interferometer's high throughput to a unique optical system which includes a 50-cm diameter telescope. This Dall Kirkham telescope maintains the large throughput of the interferometer but narrows the instrument field of view to less than a degree. The spatial resolution of the system is 14 milliradians. A bright OH Meinel airglow structure event was recorded. The structures were measured at elevation angles near the horizon. Apparent wavelengths, periods, and phase velocities, of 24 + or -1 km, 14 + or -1 minutes, and 28 + or -2 meters/second respectively, were calculated for the recorded structure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA166377
Entities
People
- Parris C. Neal
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology