Ground-based atmospheric infrared and visible emission measurements

Abstract Ground-based measurements of night-sky near-infrared and visible emissions were made at the Andenes, Norway, and Kiruna, Sweden, rocket launch sites during the Energy Budget Campaign of 1980. Optical measurements were made using visible and infrared photometers, a Michelson interferometer and a grating spectrometer. The spectral range of the spectrometers was λ 0.85 through 1.7 μm. Photometer wavelength coverages were at λ 1.7 μm, 1.27 μm, 6300 A, 5577 A, 5525 A and 3914 A. The measurement period was from 3 November through 15 November 1980, at the station on Andoya Island, and from 4 November through 4 December 1980, at the Kiruna location. The sites were separated by 255 km. Emission intensities of OH, O 2 , N 2 + and O airglow and auroral species during the campaign period are presented. Correlations were observed between the O 2 ( a 1 Δ g ) emission at λ. 1.27 μm and the OH(8,5) emission at λ. 1.3 μm. giving further evidence that the two species of the night airglow have an emission mechanism in common. Values of the rotational temperatures of the OH airglow were derived which are indicative of the temporal history of the near-mesopause atmospheric temperature. Comparisons were made of airglow intensities and temperatures with indices of auroral zone geomagnetic activity and with key atmospheric measurements made by other investigators who participated in the campaign. Correlations were found with high significance levels The trends in the observed mesopause temperature appear to be part of a general disturbance of the atmosphere due to planetary waves.