Chemiluminescence of trimethyl aluminum released into the upper atmosphere

Rosenberg, N. W.; Golomb, D.; Allen, E. F.

doi:10.1029/jz068i020p05895

Cited by 46 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The release can also be modulated by using a solenoid valve to turn the flow on and off in a predetermined sequence during the flight. For all these reasons, trimethyl aluminum quickly became the tracer of choice after it was first tested in the early 1960's [ Rosenberg et al , 1963], and the majority of the chemical release wind measurements made since then have used TMA. Lithium and sodium have still been used for special applications, however.…”

Section: Data Set Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winds and shears in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere: Results from four decades of chemical release wind measurements

2002

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[1] Since 1958, over 400 chemical tracer measurements have been made of the wind profiles in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The measurements cover a wide range of latitudes, longitudes, seasons, and local times. The results from the analysis of the data set show that a wind maximum in the altitude range between 100 and 110 km is a consistent feature of the observations at midlatitudes and low latitudes. The wind speed associated with the maximum exceeds 100 m s À1 in over 60% of the observations. Large shears are found, especially on the bottomside of the wind maximum, and the observed shears are often large enough to be either unstable or approaching instability. The wind maximum and shear features are characteristics of the overall data set and are not tied to particular observation sites, particular seasons, or special conditions. INDEX TERMS: 3369

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Section: Data Set Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winds and shears in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere: Results from four decades of chemical release wind measurements

2002

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“…The connection between falling particles and artificial aurora must be reconciled with the observation that the artificial emission only occurs when the TMA release is doped with a small amount of kerosene, about 6–7% by mass in the TOMEX experiment. Thermodynamic considerations suggest that about 50% of the TMA and hydrocarbons will condense into particulates [ Rosenberg et al , 1963] during the flash vaporization of the material upon release. These condensates could grow to micron sizes; for example, micron‐sized particulates have been observed in kerosene‐fueled rocket plumes in the stratosphere [ Gates et al , 2002].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Larsen , 2002]. The TMA reacts with oxygen to create optical emissions [ Rosenberg et al , 1963, 1964]. and yields continuum emission.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New observations of artificial aurora associated with TMA releases

Gelinas

Siefring

Bernhardt

et al. 2006

Geophysical Research Letters

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An artificial aurora was generated during a trimethyl aluminum (TMA) release from the October 2000 TOMEX rocket launch. Cameras in several locations filmed the optical emissions, believed to be associated with small amounts of kerosene added to the TMA liquid. The geometry of the launch trajectory with respect to the magnetic field and camera viewing angles has provided new insight on the source of the emissions. Surprisingly, the aurora appears to be associated with the vertical footprint of the rocket, rather than the magnetic footprint of the rocket, as previously assumed. The new observations favor a generation mechanism involving large particles >1 μm falling to 90 km altitude.

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“…The liquid TMA was continuously released to create a luminous trail extending from 90 km to the flight apogee and was photographed from at least three different island sites to allow a determination of winds in the E layer. This technique was developed for rocket use by Rosenberg et al [1963], and is at present the only reliable method for measuring the nighttime winds in this altitude range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nighttime variation of ionospheric winds over Barbados, West Indies

Murphy¹,

Bull²

1967

J. Geophys. Res.

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The use of gun‐launched projectiles to produce luminous trails above 90 km by chemical release has shown sufficient economy to allow a large number of measurements. On four occasions, six trails have been produced on the same night so that the nighttime variation of ionospheric winds can be studied. These trails did not show the Rosenberg rotating wind vector phenomena common to higher latitudes. Meridional wind contours showed a well‐determined descent during a night although the zonal wind contours showed no such behavior. By averaging the large wind fluctuations at fixed altitude throughout a night, meaningful steady‐state components have been obtained that show seasonal variations. For over half the altitudes and nights considered, large‐amplitude sinusoidal variations were observed.

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Chemiluminescence of trimethyl aluminum released into the upper atmosphere

Cited by 46 publications

References 2 publications

Winds and shears in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere: Results from four decades of chemical release wind measurements

Winds and shears in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere: Results from four decades of chemical release wind measurements

New observations of artificial aurora associated with TMA releases

Nighttime variation of ionospheric winds over Barbados, West Indies

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