Equatorial airglow depletions induced by thermospheric winds

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL012i008p00487· OSTI ID:5265334

Meriwether, Jr, J W; Biondi, M A; Anderson, D N

Interferometric observations of the 630.0 nm nightglow brightness at the equatorial station of Arequipa. Peru (16.2/sup 0/S, 71.4/sup 0/W geographic, 3.2/sup 0/S dip latitude) have revealed widespread areas of airglow depletion, with reductions in intensity as large as factors of 3 or 4. These depletions correlated closely with large increases of the equatorward (northward) wind and the 630.0 nm kinetic temperature. On occasion, the usually small meridonal wind reached a velocity of 100 m/s near 22/sup h/ LT lasting for 1 or 2 hours. The temperature increases of 10 K or more existed only in the poleward (southward) direction. Comparisons with modeling calculations suggest that this effect results from an upward movement of the ionosphere along the inclined magnetic field lines, driven by the equatorward neutral wind. The airglow column integrated emission rate is consequently decreased by the slower rate of formation and subsequent dissociative recombination of molecular oxygen ions within the higher F-layer. We conclude that the transient period of equatorward wind is a result of the passage of the midnight pressure bulge.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
• OSTI ID: 5265334
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 12:8; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
F REGION
ION DENSITY
IONOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RECOMBINATION
THERMOSPHERE
WIND