Infrared Airglow Clutter.
Abstract
A rocket and ground-based measurement programs was conducted to investigate infrared airglow and atomic oxygen density as part of the international MAP/WINE campaign in northern Scandinavia. The mean OH Meinel rotational temperature was approximately 199 K during a stratospheric warning event measured by a ground-based interferometer at ESRANGE in Sweden. This temperature is approximately 30 to 40 degress cooler than measurements taken when no stratospheric events were taking place and confirms the coupling theory that stratospheric results in mesospheric cooling. The atomic oxygen profiles measured by a rocket-borne resonance lamp technique showed a peak concentration of approximately 10 to the 11th power/cc between 90 and 100 km. The rocket results obtained between 90 and 180 km altitude show densities consistently almost an order of magnitude less than predicted by standard models. However, the rocket results are consistent with other measurements taken under similar conditions: winter nights with no particle precipitation. The 1.6 micrometer rocket-borne infrared radiometer also provided excellent altitude profiles of OH emissions. The STATE campaign examined some of the same phenomena with sounding rockets and in-situ probes launched from the Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska. Specifically, the campaign was designed to help us understand the origin and character of variations in the atmospheric index of refraction which give rise to the so-called summer mesospheric echoes detected at high latitudes by VHF radar.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA166994
Entities
People
- A. J. Steed
- J. Ulwick
- K. Baker
Organizations
- Utah State University