Laboratory Studies Required for the Extraction of O-atom Concentration Profiles from O2 Atmospheric Band Emissions

Investigator(s):

Konstantinos Kalogerakis (PI) ; Tom Slanger (Co-PI)

Sponsor:

SRI International, CA 94025 6508593571

Start Date/Expiration Date

2002-09-01 to 2005-08-31 (amended 2004-05-21)

Awarded Amount to Date:

$284,869

Abstract: This project proposes to measure the rate coefficient for the collisional removal of O2 by oxygen atoms as a function of temperature in the range 300-800 K. This measurement is a key step in quantifying a new approach for interpreting the strong ionospheric emissions from O2 and thereby deriving altitude profiles of oxygen atom density and local temperature. Extensive data sets of these 750-780 nm emissions are already available from the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) and the Arizona Airglow (GLO) studies and can provide global altitude-dependent O( 3 P) atom density maps, once the above rate coefficient has been determined. Simultaneously, the shape of the atmospheric O2 emission band envelopes can provide the local temperature. The proposed laboratory experiments will thus significantly improve the current unsatisfactory understanding of thermospheric emissions from O2.

NSF Org:

ATM - Division of Atmospheric Sciences

Award Number:

0209229

Award Instrument:

Continuing grant

Program Manager:

Robert B. Kerr
ATM Division of Atmospheric Sciences
GEO Directorate for Geosciences

NSF Program(s):

AERONOMY

Field Application(s):

Space

Program Reference Code(s):

UNASSIGNED, 0000

Program Element Code(s):

1521