Polar mesopause gravity wave activity in the sodium and hydroxyl night airglow

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA03p02527· OSTI ID:5399045

Myraboe, H K; Deehr, C S; Viereck, R ^[1]; Henriksen, K ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks (United States)
2. Auroral Observatory, Tromsoe (Norway)

The OH (6-2) band and the Na D lines in the night airglow have been observed from Spitsbergen (78{degree}N latitude) during a 3-day period in the end of November 1983. Regular and quasi-regular variations in temperature and the OH and sodium intensity were observed and are here interpreted in terms of gravity wave theory. In particular, waves with periods in the range 90-120 min having overlying ripple structure, with periods of 5-15 min, were observed. From the phase difference between the waves in the OH and sodium layer a height difference between the centroid of the two emissions of less than 1 km could be deduced. A gravity wave induced vertical eddy diffusion coefficient in the range 8 {times} 10{sup 6} to 8 {times} 10{sup 7} cm{sup 2}/s was estimated from OH-enhanced intensities. No significant net heating or cooling was observed during gravity wave activity. The gravity wave activity was not associated with geomagnetic activity. Mean OH (6-2) band and sodium night airglow intensities were 1.9 kR and 75 R, respectively.

• OSTI ID: 5399045
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 92:A3; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
ALKALI METALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DATA ANALYSIS
DIFFUSION
DYNAMICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
GRAVITY WAVES
HEATING
HYDROXYL RADICALS
MECHANICS
MESOSPHERE
METALS
MONITORING
POLAR REGIONS
RADICALS
SODIUM
THERMOSPHERE
VARIATIONS