Auroral electron energy and flux from molecular nitrogen ultraviolet emissions observed by the S3--4 satellite

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA09p09854· OSTI ID:7066239

Ishimoto, M; Meng, C; Romick, G J; Huffman, R E

The UV spectra over the southern hemisphere nightside auroral oval have been obtained from an AFGL spectral/photometric experiment on board the low-altitude polar-orbiting S3--4 satellite. A detailed analysis of nightside auroral spectra from seven orbits between mid-May and June 1978 was performed to estimate the average energy and total energy flux of incident electrons. This study was based on observations of the N/sub 2/ LBH (3--10) (1928 A) band and the N/sub 2/ VK (0--5) (2604 A) band emission intensities and the application of model calculations by Strickland et al. (1983) and Daniell and Strickland (1986). Comparison of the estimated quantities with the statistical satellite measurement of incident particles by Hardy et al. (1985) indicates that the LBH (3--10) band emission intensity can be used to estimate the total energy flux of incident electrons, similar to the N/sub 2//sup +/ 1N (0--0) (3914 A) band emission intensity in the visible region. In addition, the ratio of the BLH (3--10) to the VK (0--5) band emission intensities indicates the average energy of incident auroral electrons in much the same way that the N/sub 2//sup +/ IN (0--0) and O I (6300 A) emission ratio does in the visible region.

• Research Organization: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland
• OSTI ID: 7066239
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 93:A9; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAL OVAL
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH PLANET
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
IONOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANETS
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA