Thermospheric response to the 23 October 1981 SAR-arc and aurora as observed from Fritz Peak, Colorado and Calgary, Alberta during the dynamic explorer (DE-2) and NOAA-6 satellite overflights

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL009i009p00969· OSTI ID:5890020

Hernandez, G ^[1]; Meriwether, J W; Tepley, C A; Hays, P B; Cogger, L L; Slater, D W; Roble, R G; Emery, B A; Evans, D S

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1. Fritz Peak Observatory, Boulder, CO

Thermospheric winds and temperatures were observed from Fritz Peak, Colorado and Calgary, Alberta during the 23 October 1981 Stable Auroral Red Arc (SAR-arc) and aurora event. Ground-based photometer observations during the SAR-arc event allowed the position, 630.0 nm emission rate, and width of the SAR-arc over Fritz Peak to be monitored throughout the night. Data from the DE-2 satellite overflight near 0400UT allowed the structure of the SAR-arc near Fritz Peak and the aurora in Canada to be determined. The measurements made from Fritz Peak Observatory during the early evening hours showed a thermospheric response to heating within the SAR-arc with meridional winds flowing away from the region of maximum heating at velocities less than 50 m s/sup -1/. Later during the night the meridional winds measured over Fritz Peak shifted equatorward. The neutral gas temperature decreased from about 1700/sup 0/K in the early evening to about 1200/sup 0/K) before sunrise.

• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5890020
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 9:9; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640200* -- Atmospheric Physics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALBERTA
AURORAE
CANADA
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
COLORADO
DATA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HEATING
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NIGHT SKY
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PHOTOMETERS
SATELLITES
SKY
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMOSPHERE
USA
WIND