ISSN:
1572-946X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Night airglow of oxygen 130.4 and 135.6 nm emissions was measured by a spectrophotometer aborad an S520 sounding rocket, launched at 19:50 JST (10:50 UT) on 14 February, 1982 from Kagoshima, Japan. The altitude variation of the emissions was obtained from 110 to 266 km at zenith angles of 35.5°±4°. The emission intensity around 260 km was about 160R and is roughly compatible with model calculations taking account of O++e − radiative recombination as well as O+−O− mutual neutralization. Some excess of about 50R, compared to the model calculation, was observed around 200 km. Possible explanations of the excess are: (i) remnant oxygen ions during the transition period from day to night and (ii) diffuse radiation from the background sky. Model calculations taking account of remnant oxygen ions were also performed by adding an excess electron density to the original density profile. However, it was found that an unreasonably large electron density is required around 200 km (∼5×105 cm−3) to produce the observed intensity. It is also probable that some contribution from the background sky is present in the observed intensity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00653985
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