Effects of gravity waves on the polar O sub 2 and OH airglow

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6050487

Viereck, R A

The effect of gravity waves on the OH (87 km) and O{sub 2} (95 km) airglow emissions was examined using spectroscopic airglow data. The data was obtained from Longyearbyen, Svalbard (78{degree}N) and Fairbanks, Alaska (64{degree}N) using Ebert-Fastie spectrometers and a system of Meridian Scanning Photometers. The spectrometers scanned in wavelength from 8200{angstrom} to 8750{angstrom} which included the airglow emissions from the OH(6-2) Meinel band and the O{sub 2}(0-1) atmospheric band. The analysis was done by fitting a synthetic spectrum to the data and thereby the rotational temperature was calculated as well as the band intensity of each of the emissions. The rotational temperatures were assumed to represent the temperature of the emission region. Gravity waves were assumed to modify the density and temperature of the atmosphere in the region of the airglow emissions. These modifications were measured as fluctuations in the band intensity and rotational temperatures of the two emissions. In order to compare the data with theoretical models, it was necessary to calculate two parameters. The parameter {eta} is defined as the ratio of the amplitudes of the fluctuations in intensity and temperature. The other parameter is the phase angle between the fluctuations in intensity and temperature. These parameters were found to vary with wave period. The variations in {eta} and phase agree fairly well, for long period waves, with the most recent models. None of the models agree with the observed values of {eta} and phase for short period waves. The second part of this thesis examines the vertical and horizontal wavelengths, the phase speeds, and the propagation directions of several specific gravity wave examples.

• Research Organization: Alaska Univ., Fairbanks, AK (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6050487
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640200* -- Atmospheric Physics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA ANALYSIS
DENSITY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
GRAVITY WAVES
HYDROXYL RADICALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MODIFICATIONS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PHOTOMETERS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLAR REGIONS
RADICALS
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
WAVE PROPAGATION