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Spectrometric measurement of atomic oxygen 63µm emission in the thermosphere
Author(s) -
Offermann D.,
Grossmann K. U.
Publication year - 1978
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/gl005i005p00387
Subject(s) - thermosphere , radiance , altitude (triangle) , rocket (weapon) , airglow , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , atomic oxygen , spectrometer , range (aeronautics) , sounding rocket , physics , mesosphere , remote sensing , materials science , oxygen , stratosphere , ionosphere , optics , geology , astronomy , geometry , mathematics , engineering , quantum mechanics , composite material , aerospace engineering
Thermospheric far infrared emission was measured by a rocket borne, helium cooled grating spectrometer in the wavelength region 45µm to 125µm. The rocket was launched on March 16, 1977 at 2304 CET from Andoya, Norway, during a moderate geomagnetic disturbance. First spectral measurements of 63µm atomic oxygen fine structure transition were obtained in the altitude regime 90 ‐ 180 km. No other emissions were found in the spectral range covered at altitudes above 130 km. The minimum detectable radiance was below 2 · 10 −11 W/cm²sr. Radiometric measurements of CO 2 15µm band emission were made by the same instrument in the altitude range 102 ‐ 140 km.