skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Upper atmospheric effects of the hf active auroral research program ionospheric research instrument (HAARP IRI)

Abstract

The earth's ozone layer occurs in the stratosphere, primarily between 10 and 30 miles altitude. The amount of ozone, O3, present is the result of a balance between production and destruction processes. Experiments have shown that natural processes such as auroras create molecules that destroy O. One family of such molecules is called odd nitrogen of which nitric oxide (NO) is an example. Because the HAARP (HF Active Auroral Research Program) facility is designed to mimic and investigate certain natural processes, a study of possible effects of HAARP on the ozone layer was conducted. The study used a detailed model of the thermal and chemical effects of the high power HF beam, which interacts with free electrons in the upper atmosphere above 50 miles altitude. It was found only a small fraction of the beam energy goes into the production of odd nitrogen molecules, whereas odd nitrogen is efficiently produced by auroras. Since the total energy emitted by HAARP in the year is some 200,000 times less than the energy deposited in the upper atmosphere by auroras, the study demonstrates that HAARP HF beam experiments will cause no measurable depletion of the earth's ozone layer.... Ozone, Ozone depletion, Ozone layer,more » Odd nitrogen, Nitric oxide, HAARP Emitter characteristics.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Mission Research Corp., Nashua, NH (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
5980268
Report Number(s):
AD-A-268948/7/XAB
CNN: F19628-90-C-0118
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; OZONE LAYER; ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY; RADIOWAVE RADIATION; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; AURORAE; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; NITRIC OXIDE; SIMULATION; STRATOSPHERE; CHALCOGENIDES; CHEMISTRY; CLIMATIC CHANGE; DATA; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; INFORMATION; LAYERS; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; NITROGEN OXIDES; NUMERICAL DATA; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; RADIATIONS; 540120* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 661320 - Auroral, Ionospheric, & Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-); 400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties

Citation Formats

Eccles, V, and Armstrong, R. Upper atmospheric effects of the hf active auroral research program ionospheric research instrument (HAARP IRI). United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Eccles, V, & Armstrong, R. Upper atmospheric effects of the hf active auroral research program ionospheric research instrument (HAARP IRI). United States.
Eccles, V, and Armstrong, R. 1993. "Upper atmospheric effects of the hf active auroral research program ionospheric research instrument (HAARP IRI)". United States.
@article{osti_5980268,
title = {Upper atmospheric effects of the hf active auroral research program ionospheric research instrument (HAARP IRI)},
author = {Eccles, V and Armstrong, R},
abstractNote = {The earth's ozone layer occurs in the stratosphere, primarily between 10 and 30 miles altitude. The amount of ozone, O3, present is the result of a balance between production and destruction processes. Experiments have shown that natural processes such as auroras create molecules that destroy O. One family of such molecules is called odd nitrogen of which nitric oxide (NO) is an example. Because the HAARP (HF Active Auroral Research Program) facility is designed to mimic and investigate certain natural processes, a study of possible effects of HAARP on the ozone layer was conducted. The study used a detailed model of the thermal and chemical effects of the high power HF beam, which interacts with free electrons in the upper atmosphere above 50 miles altitude. It was found only a small fraction of the beam energy goes into the production of odd nitrogen molecules, whereas odd nitrogen is efficiently produced by auroras. Since the total energy emitted by HAARP in the year is some 200,000 times less than the energy deposited in the upper atmosphere by auroras, the study demonstrates that HAARP HF beam experiments will cause no measurable depletion of the earth's ozone layer.... Ozone, Ozone depletion, Ozone layer, Odd nitrogen, Nitric oxide, HAARP Emitter characteristics.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5980268}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}

Technical Report:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that may hold this item. Keep in mind that many technical reports are not cataloged in WorldCat.

Save / Share: