The infrared spectrum of the airglow

Abstract

The techniques of studying the IR airglow are briefly discussed followed by a review of recent observations. The main emphasis is on the molecular emissions of OH and 02 from the mesosphere and lower thermosphere with a shorter discussion of the F-region atomic emissions. The theoretical interpretations of these emissions are reviewed. It is concluded that dynamic effects must play a dominant and as yet incompletely understood part in the photochemistry of the molecular emission region. An atlas of recently available airglow spectra is included.

Diurnal and seasonal variation of the nighttime OH (8‐3) emission at low latitudes

“…There have been many extensive theoretical and experimental investigations of this emission. The excitation process in the nighttime terrestrial atmosphere is generally assigned to the reaction [Bates and Nicolet, 1950;Valance Jones, 1973;LeTexier et al, 1987;Lopez-Moreno et al, 1987]…”

Rocket observation of near infrared airglow.

“…Although the altitude dependences are similar to those observed for some of the cases, the absolute flux values are far too small to explain the observed airglow emission. CO2 molecules have a strong 4.3m band (JONES, 1973). If the observed high altitude airglow component were due to CO2, the brightness of the 4.5m photometric band would be at least several times larger than that of the 2.8um band in the corresponding altitude range.…”

2.4 micrometer sky brightness at balloon altitude

“…Using the method and parameters by Vallance Jones (1973), the intensity of OH airglow was calculated assuming a rotation temperature of 200 K. in Fig. 3, a thick line shows the model of the sky brightness obtained by summing OH lines in the 0.1 /urn bandwidth.…”