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Evidence of non‐LTE effects in mesospheric water vapor from spectrally‐resolved emissions observed by CIRRIS‐1A
Author(s) -
Zhou D. K.,
Mlynczak M. G.,
LópezPuertas M.,
Zaragoza G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1998gl900233
Subject(s) - radiance , mesosphere , daytime , environmental science , michelson interferometer , atmospheric sciences , water vapor , atmospheric infrared sounder , infrared , atmospheric sounding , satellite , spectral line , remote sensing , meteorology , interferometry , physics , optics , stratosphere , geology , astronomy
Evidence of non‐LTE effects in mesospheric water vapor as determined by infrared spectral emission measurements taken from the space shuttle is reported. A cryogenic Michelson interferometer in the CIRRIS‐1A shuttle payload yielded high quality atmospheric infrared spectra. These measurements demonstrate the enhanced daytime emissions of H 2 O (020→010) which are the result of non‐LTE processes and in agreement with non‐LTE models. The radiance ratios of H 2 O (010→000) and (020→010) Q(1) transitions during daytime are compared with non‐LTE model calculations to assess the vibration‐to‐vibration exchange rate between H 2 O and O 2 in the mesosphere. An exchange rate of 1.2×10 −12 cm³ s −1 is derived.