Cooling Mechanisms of the Planetary Thermospheres: The Key Role of O Atom Vibrational Excitation of CO2 and NO

A Theoretical Study of Rate Coefficients for the O + NO Vibrational Relaxation

“…Calculated state-to-all rate constants for room temperature were also found to be in good agreement with the reported experimental values, − albeit a factor of nearly 3 or so smaller than the recommended values of Fernando and Smith . Such data may bear important implications on the thermospheric temperature modeling as referred to in ref .…”

A Theoretical Study of Rate Coefficients for the O + NO Vibrational Relaxation

“…Calculated state-to-all rate constants for room temperature were also found to be in good agreement with the reported experimental values, − albeit a factor of nearly 3 or so smaller than the recommended values of Fernando and Smith . Such data may bear important implications on the thermospheric temperature modeling as referred to in ref .…”

Vibrational relaxation of NO(v = 1) by oxygen atoms between 295 and 825 K

“…Recently, at least two aeronomic models have been developed or extended, taking account of the newer data on the NO( v )‐O quenching rate coefficients. Sharma and Roble [2001, 2002] found that when the value of k O ( v = 1) = 2.4 × 10 −11 cm 3 s −1 was input into the global mean model, the predicted temperature and density structure of the upper atmosphere was unrealistic using the MSIS model as a benchmark. For instance, the neutral temperature in the 100–500 km altitude range was predicted to be up to 70 K higher as compared to that predicted using the previously determined value of k O ( v = 1) = 6.5 × 10 −11 cm 3 s −1 [ Fernando and Smith , 1979], while the neutral species densities were predicted to increase by up to a factor of 2.…”

The importance of geomagnetic field changes versus rising CO2levels for long-term change in the upper atmosphere

“…While the TIE-GCM is one of the best models in its category, it is not a perfect representation of the true upper atmosphere and there are uncertainties associated with any model simulation. For instance, there are limited constraints available on the CO 2 -O relaxation rate coefficient, which determines in part how efficiently CO 2 cools the upper atmosphere (Sharma & Roble 2002). This means that a reasonable choice has to be made, and this choice will have an influence on the effect the model predicts for an increase in the CO 2 concentration.…”

A Theoretical Study of Rate Coefficients for the O + NO Vibrational Relaxation

“…Calculated state-to-all rate constants for room temperature were also found to be in good agreement with the reported experimental values, − albeit a factor of nearly 3 or so smaller than the recommended values of Fernando and Smith . Such data may bear important implications on the thermospheric temperature modeling as referred to in ref .…”

Vibrational relaxation of NO(v = 1) by oxygen atoms between 295 and 825 K

“…Recently, at least two aeronomic models have been developed or extended, taking account of the newer data on the NO( v )‐O quenching rate coefficients. Sharma and Roble [2001, 2002] found that when the value of k O ( v = 1) = 2.4 × 10 −11 cm 3 s −1 was input into the global mean model, the predicted temperature and density structure of the upper atmosphere was unrealistic using the MSIS model as a benchmark. For instance, the neutral temperature in the 100–500 km altitude range was predicted to be up to 70 K higher as compared to that predicted using the previously determined value of k O ( v = 1) = 6.5 × 10 −11 cm 3 s −1 [ Fernando and Smith , 1979], while the neutral species densities were predicted to increase by up to a factor of 2.…”

The importance of geomagnetic field changes versus rising CO2levels for long-term change in the upper atmosphere

“…While the TIE-GCM is one of the best models in its category, it is not a perfect representation of the true upper atmosphere and there are uncertainties associated with any model simulation. For instance, there are limited constraints available on the CO 2 -O relaxation rate coefficient, which determines in part how efficiently CO 2 cools the upper atmosphere (Sharma & Roble 2002). This means that a reasonable choice has to be made, and this choice will have an influence on the effect the model predicts for an increase in the CO 2 concentration.…”

A Theoretical Study of Rate Coefficients for the O + NO Vibrational Relaxation

“…Calculated state-to-all rate constants for room temperature were also found to be in good agreement with the reported experimental values, − albeit a factor of nearly 3 or so smaller than the recommended values of Fernando and Smith . Such data may bear important implications on the thermospheric temperature modeling as referred to in ref .…”

Vibrational relaxation of NO(v = 1) by oxygen atoms between 295 and 825 K

“…Recently, at least two aeronomic models have been developed or extended, taking account of the newer data on the NO( v )‐O quenching rate coefficients. Sharma and Roble [2001, 2002] found that when the value of k O ( v = 1) = 2.4 × 10 −11 cm 3 s −1 was input into the global mean model, the predicted temperature and density structure of the upper atmosphere was unrealistic using the MSIS model as a benchmark. For instance, the neutral temperature in the 100–500 km altitude range was predicted to be up to 70 K higher as compared to that predicted using the previously determined value of k O ( v = 1) = 6.5 × 10 −11 cm 3 s −1 [ Fernando and Smith , 1979], while the neutral species densities were predicted to increase by up to a factor of 2.…”

The importance of geomagnetic field changes versus rising CO2levels for long-term change in the upper atmosphere

“…While the TIE-GCM is one of the best models in its category, it is not a perfect representation of the true upper atmosphere and there are uncertainties associated with any model simulation. For instance, there are limited constraints available on the CO 2 -O relaxation rate coefficient, which determines in part how efficiently CO 2 cools the upper atmosphere (Sharma & Roble 2002). This means that a reasonable choice has to be made, and this choice will have an influence on the effect the model predicts for an increase in the CO 2 concentration.…”