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A new airglow layer in the stratosphere
Author(s) -
Evans W. F. J.,
Shepherd G. G.
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1029/96gl03333
Subject(s) - airglow , stratosphere , troposphere , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , mesosphere , physics
A new airglow layer has been observed arising from the 40 to 60 km level in the stratosphere. The upper portion of this layer was first measured by the WINDII instrument when the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite was rotated in roll angle so the field of view measured down to 60 km in January, 1994. The main hydroxyl airglow layer at 85 km is measured with the WINDII filter channel at 730 nm. After the April roll angle increase, a continuum emission layer was observed below 70 km on numerous images. It is proposed that this emission originates from excited NO 2 created from the reaction of O 3 with NO. This new airglow layer is peaked around 45 km about 1 hour after sunset. The chemiluminescent glow from this reaction is well known in the laboratory and is used in balloon instruments for the measurement of nitric oxide in the stratosphere and troposphere.