Observations of V = 1-0 emission from the thermospheric nitric oxide by ISAMS

Journal Article · Fri Jun 18 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL00828· OSTI ID:5899376

Ballard, J; Kerridge, B J ^[1]; Morris, P E; Taylor, F W ^[2]

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1. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (United Kingdom)
2. Oxford Univ. (United Kingdom)

This paper reports on measurements made on the vibrational band of NO, v = 1-0, in emission, from thermospheric observations made by the improved stratospheric and mesospheric sounder (ISAMS) carried on the upper atmosphere research satellite. One of the channels of this instrument overlaps this NO vibrational band. The limb scanned data can be collected on paths whose tangent point can be scanned from 0 to greater than 150km. The large distance tangent points were intended as calibration points, but for the NO observations, signals are still seen, and calibrations had to be done when the spacecraft was doing a roll, and the channel was observing tangent distances greater than 200km. The source of NO in the thermosphere is from reactions of N atoms with O[sub 2]. N is produced either from energetic solar radiation, or from collisions with precipitating charged particles. ISAMS typically shows peaking of NO at altitudes of 120km, which is consistent with high temperatures and densities found in the lower thermosphere. The observations also show the correlation of NO emissions with periods of geomagnetic activity.

• OSTI ID: 5899376
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 20:12; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FLUX DENSITY
LEVELS
MAGNETIC STORMS
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIANT FLUX DENSITY
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
THERMOSPHERE
VIBRATIONAL STATES