Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Solar UV radiation and its absorption in the mesosphere and stratosphere

  • Published:
pure and applied geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Solar radiation of λ>175 nm and of Lyman-alpha at 121.6 nm is absorbed in the mesosphere and stratosphere by molecular oxygen (λ<242 nm) and also by ozone molecules at λ>200 nm. This paper describes the photodissociation processes resulting from absorption in the Schumann-Runge bands and Herzberg continuum of molecular oxygen and also in the Hartley, Huggins and Chappuis bands of ozone. Special consideration is given to differences between the stratospheric and mesospheric problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerman, M. andBiaume, F. (1970),Structure of the Schumann-Runge bands from the 0-0 to the 13-0 band, J. Mol. Spectr.35, 73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arvesen, J. C., Griffin, R. N., Jr. andPearson, B. D. (1969),Determination of extraterrestrial solar spectral irradiance from a research aircraft, Appl. Optics8, 2215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Artzner, G. (1978),The solar H-Lyman-alpha line: Wavelength and profile measurement, Astron. Astrophys.70, L11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergeman, T. H. andWofsy, S. C. (1972),The fine structure of \(O_2 (B^3 \sum \bar u)\), Chem. Phys. Letters15, 104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brix, P. andHerzberg, G. (1954),Fine structure of the Schumann-Runge bands near the convergence limit and the dissociation energy of the oxygen molecule, Canad. J. Phys.32, 110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadfoot, A. L. (1972),The solar spectrum 2100–2300 Å, Astrophys. J.173, 681.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brueckner, G. E., Bartoe, J. D. F., Moe, O. K. andVanhoosier, M. E. (1976),Absolute solar ultraviolet intensities and their variations with solar activity, Part I: The wavelength region 1750 A-2100 Å, Astrophys. J.209, 935.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner, E. C., Jr. andParker, R. W. (1969),Hydrogen geocorona and solar Lyman-alpha line 1. Rocket measurement of the solar line profile, J. Geophys. Res.74, 107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner, E. C., Jr. andRense, W. A. (1969),Rocket observations of profiles of solar ultraviolet emission lines, Astrophys. J.157, 417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carver, J. H., Gies, H. P., Hobbs, T. I., Lewis, B. R. andMcCoy, D. G. (1977),Temperature dependence of the molecular oxygen photoabsorption cross section near the H Lyman alpha line, J. Geophys. Res.82, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cieslik, S. (1977),Détermination expérimentale des forces d'oscillateur dans les principales bandes des systèmes β, γ, σ et ε de la molécule NO, Bull. Cl. Sci., Acad. Roy. Belg.63, 884.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cieslik, S. (1978),Sections efficaces d'absorption intégrées des raies des bandes δ et ε de la molécule NO, Bull. Cl. Sci., Acad. Roy. Belg.64, 265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cieslik, S. andNicolet, M. (1973),The aeronomic dissociation of nitric oxide, Planet. Space Sci.21, 925.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaboudinière, J. P., Donnelly, R. F., Hinteregger, H. E., Schmidike, G. andSimon, P. C. (1978),Intercomparison/compilation of relevant solar flux data related to aeronomy. COSPAR Technique Manual No. 7.

  • De Luisi, J. J. (1975),Measurements of the extraterrestrial solar radiant flux from 2981 to 4000 Å and its transmission through the Earth's atmosphere as it is affected by dust and ozone, J. Geophys. Res.80, 345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ditchburn, R. W. andYoung, P. A. (1962),The absorption of molecular oxygen between 1850 and 2500 Å, J. Atm. Terr. Phys.24, 127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, T. M., Wofsy, S. C. andDalgarno, A. (1974),Opacity distribution functions and absorption in Schumann-Runge bands of molecular oxygen, Planet. Space Sci.,22, 413.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederick, J. E. andHudson, R. D. (1979),Predissociation linewidths and oscillator strengths for the (2-O) to (13-O) Schumann-Runge bands of O2, J. Molec. Spec.74.

  • Friedman, H. (1960),The Sun's ionizing radiations, Chap. 4 inPhysics of the Upper Atmosphere, ed. J. A. Ratcliffe, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasson, V. andNicholls, R. W. (1971),Absolute spectral absorption measurements on molecular oxygen from 2640-1920 Å: II. Continuum measurements 2430-1920 Å, J. Phys. B. Atomic Molec. Phys.4, 1789.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, D. H. andThekaekara, M. P. (1977),The solar spectrum between 1200 and 3000 Å, p. 193 inThe Solar Output and its Variation, ed. O. R. White, Colorado Ass. Univ. Press, Boulder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heroux, L. andSwirbalus, R. A. (1976),Full-disk solar fluxes between 1230 and 1940 Å, J. Geophys. Res.81, 436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, R. D., Carter, V. L. andBreig, E. L. (1969),Predissociation in the Schumann-Runge band system of O2:laboratory measurements and atmospheric effects, J. Geophys. Res.74, 4079.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, R. D. andMahle, S. H. (1972),Photodissociation rates of molecular oxygen in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, J. Geophys. Res.77, 2902.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kockarts, G. (1971),Penetration of solar radiation in the Schumann-Runge bands of molecular oxygen, inMesospheric Models and Related Experiments, ed. G. Fiocco, Reidel Publ. Cy., Dordrecht-Holland, pp. 160–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kockarts, G. (1976),Absorption and photodissociation in the Schumann-Runge bands of molecular oxygen in the terrestrial atmosphere, Planet. Space Sci.24, 589.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemaire, P., Charra, J., Jouchoux, A., Vidal-Madjar, A., Artzner, G. E., Vial, J. C., Bonnet, R. M. andSkumanich, A. (1978),Calibrated fill disk solar HILyman-α and Lyman-β profiles, Astrophys. J.223, L55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, B. R., Carver, J. H., Hobbs, T. I., McCoy, D. G. andGies, H. P. F. (1978),Experimentally determined oscillator strengths and linewidths for the Schumann-Runge band system of molecular oxygen. I. The (6-O)-(14-O) bands, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer20, 191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muramatzu, H. (1975),Dissociation rates of oxygen and ozone molecules in the stratosphere and mesosphere, Papers in Met. Geophys.26, 219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolet, M. (1975),Stratospheric ozone: an introduction to its study, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys.13, 593.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolet, M. andCieslik, S. (1979),The atmospheric problem of the nitric oxide dissociation, Planet. Space Sci. (to be published).

  • Nicolet, M. andPeetermans, W. (1979),Atmospheric absorption in the O2 Schumann-Runge band spectral range and O2 total photodissociation rates in the stratosphere and mesosphere, Planet. Space Sci. (to be published).

  • Ogawa, M. (1971),Absorption cross sections of O2 and CO2 continua in the Schumann and far-UV regions, J. Chem. Phys.54, 2550.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, J. H. (1974),The equivalent mean absorption cross sections for the O2 Schumann-Runge bands: Application to the H2Oand NOphotodissociation rates, J. Atm. Sc.31, 1893.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinz, D. K. (1974),The spatial distribution of Lyman-α on the Sun, Astrophys. J.187, 369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rottman, G. R. (1974),Disc values of the solar ultraviolet flux, 1150 to 1900 Å, EOS56, 1157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samain, D. andSimon, P. C. (1976),Solar flux determination in the spectral range 150–210 nm, Solar Phys.49, 33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shardanand andPrasad Rao, A. D. (1977),Collision-induced absorption of O2 in the Herzberg continuum, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer17, 433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimazaki, T., Ogawa, T. andFarrell, B. C. (March 1977),Simplified methods for calculating photodissociation rates of various molecules in the Schumann-Runge band systems in the upper atmosphere, MASA Tech. Note TN D-8399.

  • Simon, P. C. (1974),Balloon measurements of solar fluxes between 1960 and 2300 Å, in Proceedings of the third conference on the climatic impact assessment program (eds. Broderick and Hard), p. 137, DOT-TSC-OST-74-15.

  • Simon, P. C. (1975),Nouvelles mesures de l'ultraviolet solaire dans la stratosphère, Bulletin Acad. Roy. Belg., Cl. Sci.61, 399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, P. C. (1978),Irradiation solar flux measurements between 120 and 400 nm. Current position and future needs, Planet. Space Sci.26, 355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, G. E. andAnderson, D. E., Jr. (1976),Global atomic hydrogen density derived from OGO-6 Lyman-α measurements, Planet. Space Sci.24, 303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tousey, R. (1963),The extreme ultraviolet spectrum of the Sun, Space Sci. Rev.2, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal-Madjar, A. (1975),Evolution of the solar Lyman-alpha flux during four consecutive years, Solar Phys.40, 69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal-Madjar, A. (1977),The solar spectrum at Lyman-alpha 1216 Å, p. 123 inThe Solar Output and its Variation, ed. O. R. White, Colorado Ass. Univ. Press, Boulder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks, L. H. (1967),Lyman-alpha emission from the Sun near solar minimum, Astrophys. J.147, 1203.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Marcel Nicolet

    Present address: , 30 Avenue Den Doorn, B-180, Brussels, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ionosphere Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, Pa., USA

    Marcel Nicolet

Authors
  1. Marcel Nicolet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nicolet, M. Solar UV radiation and its absorption in the mesosphere and stratosphere. PAGEOPH 118, 3–19 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01586443

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01586443

Key words

Search

Navigation