Premium
A nitric oxide increase observed following the July 1982 solar proton event
Author(s) -
McPeters R. D.
Publication year - 1986
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/gl013i007p00667
Subject(s) - atmospheric sciences , albedo (alchemy) , altitude (triangle) , environmental science , nitric oxide , northern hemisphere , southern hemisphere , latitude , proton , climatology , physics , geology , chemistry , astronomy , art , geometry , mathematics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , performance art , art history
Following the solar proton event (SPE) of July 13, 1982, an increase in the strength of nitric oxide T bands was observed in spectral scans of the atmospheric albedo made by the solar backscattered ultraviolet instrument on Nimbus 7. Analysis of the (10), (01), and (02) T band strengths allows us to estimate the cumulative amount of nitric oxide above an altitude of 50 km. We observe an increase in nitric oxide in southern hemisphere high latitudes following the SPE amounting to about 5×10 14 molecules per cm² above an altitude of approximately 50 km. The observed increase persists until the middle of September. A similar increase is not observed in the northern hemisphere, indicating that under summer conditions the mesospheric/thermospheric NO distribution returns to normal within a few days after the end of an SPE.