Satellite observations of the O I 1304, 1356 and 1641 A dayglow and the abundance of atomic oxygen in the thermosphere

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7242142

Conway, R R; Meier, R R; Huffman, R E

The far ultraviolet spectrometer experiment on the S3-4 satellite made nadir-viewing observations of the atomic oxygen dayglow during the spring of 1978. Comparison of 27 orbits of OI 1304A (2p-3S), 1356 A (3p-3S), and 1641 A (1D-3S) intensities shows important orbit-to-orbit variations. For four selected orbits of data, airglow intensities were computed using the 0 abundance predicted by the MSIS-83 model atmosphere for the appropriate geophysical conditions. In general, the MIS-83 model atmosphere reproduces the airglow rather well. To match the absolute magnitude of the airglow, the computed photoelectron flux was increased by 40%, also the observed 1641/1304 intensity ratio required a branching ratio of 2.4 x 10{sup {minus}6}. Reductions in the airglow during geomagnetically disturbed conditions suggest decreases in the O concentration which can be observed remotely.

• Research Organization: Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7242142
• Report Number(s): AD-A-212186/1/XAB; GL-TR--89-0240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATOMS
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC SURVEYS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONMETALS
ORBITS
OXYGEN
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SPECTROMETERS
SURVEYS
THERMOSPHERE
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROMETERS