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Atomic nitrogen measurements in the upper atmosphere
Author(s) -
Mauersberger K.,
Engebretson M. J.,
Potter W. E.,
Kayser D. C.,
Nier A. O.
Publication year - 1975
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/gl002i008p00337
Subject(s) - atmosphere (unit) , nitrogen , thermosphere , atomic physics , ion , atmospheric sciences , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , physics , ionosphere , meteorology , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , astronomy
The open source neutral mass spectrometer (OSS) on the Atmosphere Explorer‐C satellite (AE‐C) measures the neutral constituents of the upper atmosphere. It has been found that atomic nitrogen densities can be determined at altitudes above 380 km. Most of the nitrogen atoms combine with oxygen adsorbed on the walls of the ion source to form NO. The measured net peaks at 14 amu and 30 amu show the scale height expected for atomic nitrogen; both peaks have a pronounced diurnal variation. We computed absolute number densities at 400 km for a time period between February and April 1974 when measurements were taken in the northern hemisphere. Minimum and maximum densities of atomic nitrogen occur between 4 and 6 hr LST in the morning and around 16 hr LST in the afternoon, respectively. At 400 km the minimum particle density is 1.0 × 10 5 cm −3 and the maximum density 1.5 × 10 6 cm −3 . In contrast to the response of N 2 to geomagnetic activity, atomic N shows no appreciable effect.