Atomic oxygen concentrations from rocket airglow observations in the equatorial region

Abstract

A rocket payload designed to measure mesospheric sodium, hydroxyl and oxygen nightglow emissions, in addition to electron density and temperature, was launched from the Alcantara Launch Center (2°S, 44°W), Brazil, at 23:52 LST on 31 May 1992. The height profiles of the atomic oxygen OI557.7 nm and molecular oxygen Atmospheric (0-0) band emissions showed maxima at 100±3 km and 98±3 km, respectively. The emission data are used to calculate the atomic oxygen concentration profiles. The results show the validity for the equatorial region of the empirical parameters proposed by McDade et al. (1986).