Global observations of nitric oxide in the thermosphere

被引:142
作者
Barth, CA
Mankoff, KD
Bailey, SM
Solomon, SC
机构
[1] Univ Colorado, Atmospher & Space Phys Lab, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
[2] Univ Alaska, Inst Geophys, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA
[3] Natl Ctr Atmospher Res, High Altitude Observ, Boulder, CO 80307 USA
关键词
nitric oxide; solar soft x-rays; lower thermosphere; auroral electrons; SNOE;
D O I
10.1029/2002JA009458
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
[1] Nitric oxide density in the lower thermosphere (97-150 km) has been measured from the polar-orbiting Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite as a function of latitude, longitude, and altitude for the 2 1/2 year period from 11 March 1998 until 30 September 2000. The observations show that the maximum density occurs near 106-110 km and that the density is highly variable. The nitric oxide density at low latitudes correlates well with the solar soft X-ray irradiance (2-7 nm), indicating that it is the solar X-rays that produce thermospheric nitric oxide at low and midlatitudes. Nitric oxide is produced at auroral latitudes (60degrees-70degrees geomagnetic) by the precipitation of electrons (1-10 keV) into the thermosphere. During high geomagnetic activity, increased nitric oxide may be present at midlatitudes as the result of meridional winds that carry the nitric oxide equatorward.
引用
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页数:11
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