Model studies of nitric oxide fluorescence in the earth's backscattered spectrum

Frederick, John E.; Abrams, R. B.

doi:10.1016/0032-0633(82)90084-8

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Satellite measurements of NO via the ␥-band emission had been demonstrated by SME to determine profile information from the limb scan (Barth et al 1983(Barth et al , 1988 and by SBUV to determine column amounts above 45 km from nadir measurements (McPeters 1989). NO can be detected above 40 km via the emission from the excited A 2 ⌺ ϩ state into the ground state X 2 ⌸ 1/2,3/2 (NO ␥-band transitions, 200-300 nm) as determined in a model sensitivity study by Frederick and Abrams (1982). SCIAMACHY will be able to detect several bands in the 240-300-nm spectral region of the ␥-band emissions of NO in limb as well as in nadir observation mode.…”

Section: Mesospheric Chemistry and Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

SCIAMACHY: Mission Objectives and Measurement Modes

Bovensmann¹,

Burrows²,

Buchwitz³

et al. 1999

J. Atmos. Sci.

1,871

1,352

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SCIAMACHY (Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography) is a spectrometer designed to measure sunlight transmitted, reflected, and scattered by the earth's atmosphere or surface in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelength region (240-2380 nm) at moderate spectral resolution (0.2-1.5 nm, /⌬ ഠ 1000-10 000). SCIAMACHY will measure the earthshine radiance in limb and nadir viewing geometries and solar or lunar light transmitted through the atmosphere observed in occultation. The extraterrestrial solar irradiance and lunar radiance will be determined from observations of the sun and the moon above the atmosphere. The absorption, reflection, and scattering behavior of the atmosphere and the earth's surface is determined from comparison of earthshine radiance and solar irradiance. Inversion of the ratio of earthshine radiance and solar irradiance yields information about the amounts and distribution of important atmospheric constituents and the spectral reflectance (or albedo) of the earth's surface. SCIAMACHY was conceived to improve our knowledge and understanding of a variety of issues of importance for the chemistry and physics of the earth's atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere) and potential changes resulting from either increasing anthropogenic activity or the variability of natural phenomena. Topics of relevance for SCIAMACHY are R tropospheric pollution arising from industrial activity and biomass burning, R troposphere-stratosphere exchange processes, R stratospheric ozone chemistry focusing on the understanding of the ozone depletion in polar regions as well as in midlatitudes, and R solar variability and special events such as volcanic eruptions, and related regional and global phenomena. Inversion of the SCIAMACHY measurements enables the amounts and distribution of the atmospheric constituents O 3 , O 2 , O 2 (1 ⌬), O 4 , BrO, OClO, ClO, SO 2 , H 2 CO, NO, NO 2 , NO 3 , CO, CO 2 , CH 4 , H 2 O, N 2 O, and aerosol, as well as knowledge about the parameters pressure p, temperature T, radiation field, cloud cover, cloudtop height, and surface spectral reflectance to be determined. A special feature of SCIAMACHY is the combined limb-nadir measurement mode. The inversion of the combination of limb and nadir measurements will enable tropospheric column amounts of O 3 , NO 2 , BrO, CO, CH 4 , H 2 O, N 2 O, SO 2 , and H 2 CO to be determined.

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Section: Mesospheric Chemistry and Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

SCIAMACHY: Mission Objectives and Measurement Modes

Bovensmann¹,

Burrows²,

Buchwitz³

et al. 1999

J. Atmos. Sci.

1,871

1,352

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“…There is a known contamination to the channel 1 albedo from the nitric oxide (1,4) gamma band near 255 nm [Frederick and Abrams, 1982;Frederick and Serafino, 1985;McPeters, 1989]. At high latitudes in summer this effect is very minor, less than 2-3% even at large solar zenith angles.…”

Section: Cloud Deltlwion Algorithmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Satellite observations of polar mesospheric clouds by the solar backscattered ultraviolet spectral radiometer: Evidence of a solar cycle dependence

Thomas¹,

McPeters²,

Jensen³

1991

J. Geophys. Res.

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Measurements from space of the Earth's ultraviolet albedo are affected by scattering of sunlight from polar mesospheric clouds (PMC). We have examined 8 years of solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV) albedo data and find evidence of an annual occurrence of PMC in the summertime polar cap regions of both hemispheres. We have devised a cloud selection algorithm based upon the expected spectral properties of PMC scattering and show that the albedo residuals selected by this algorithm, at least above some threshold brightness, possess the basic properties of PMC with regard to their brightness levels, their seasonal characteristics, and latitude variation. Because of the uniform sampling of the polar caps, particularly in the southern hemisphere, it is possible to examine year-to-year variations in PMC activity. We find that a significant trend is present in the PMC occurrence frequency values over the period 1978 to 1986. The increase (up to a factor of 10 at some brightness levels) in the occurrence frequency from solar maximum to solar minimum conditions indicates an anticorrelation with solar activity, an effect that also appears to be present in noctilucent cloud sightings over the past several decades. Garcia [1989] suggested that PMC should be modulated by changes in the solar Lyman-alpha (121.6 nm) flux through its strong photodissociation control of upper mesospheric water vapor. Solar Lyman-alpha underwent a significant (50%) variation during this period. Our results confirm this expectation, and thus indirectly support the current theories of PMC formation. However, other influences such as long-term changes of mesopause temperature or dynamics cannot be ruled out. We have identified two kinds of hemispherical asymmetries: the first, that PMC in the northern hemisphere is significantly brighter than in the south is consistent with previous results derived from Solar Mesosphere Explorer data; and the second, that the solar cycle response in the south is more pronounced than in the north. We show that if PMC scattering is not taken into account in the SBUV ozone retrieval algorithm, systematic errors of order 10% can occur in derived ozone concentration in the 40-50 km region of the summer polar cap.

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“…Such profiles may be characterized by the peak number density [NO],, the altitude z, of this peak and the vertical distance Az between the upper and lower levels a t which the number density is half the peak. Table 1 compares the values of these characteristics with the corresponding values for a model [NO] profile that Frederick & Abrams (1982) judged appropriate to adopt as a reference in a study of nitric oxide fluorescence in the Earth's backscattered spectrum. I t is based on a measured profile (Meira 1971) adjusted to take into account a change in the accepted (1,O) gamma band oscillator strength.…”

Section: Rocket Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is based on a measured profile (Meira 1971) adjusted to take into account a change in the accepted (1,0) gamma band oscillator strength. As Frederick & Abrams (1982) noted the true profile is variable in space and time and a profile that differs greatly from the model is not necessarily incorrect. Because of the high [NO]x they derived, 2.5 x 108 cm-3 at 104 km, McDade et al (1982) had questioned whether the N 02 air afterglow suffices for the green continuum.…”

Section: Rocket Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cause of terrestrial nightglow continuum

Bates

1993

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A

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Since the nightglow’s green continuum was discovered over 40 years ago the theory that it arises from the NO 2 air afterglow has been generally accepted so that its intensity is regarded as a useful measure of the abundance of nitric oxide in the lower thermosphere. This theory is shown to be untenable. Observational evidence points unambiguously to a novel source: metastable oxygen molecules colliding with ambient gas molecules and thereby forming complexes that dissociate by allowed radiative transitions.

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Model studies of nitric oxide fluorescence in the earth's backscattered spectrum

Cited by 14 publications

References 17 publications

SCIAMACHY: Mission Objectives and Measurement Modes

SCIAMACHY: Mission Objectives and Measurement Modes

Satellite observations of polar mesospheric clouds by the solar backscattered ultraviolet spectral radiometer: Evidence of a solar cycle dependence

Cause of terrestrial nightglow continuum

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