THERMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURES AND WINDS DERIVED FROM OI LAMBDAL630 NM NIGHT AIRGLOW LINE-PROFILES

Thermospheric temperatures and winds over Mt. Torrens (near Adelaide) have been determined from the [OI] λ630 nm night airglow line profile width and displacement recorded with a high resolution scanning Fabry-Perot spectrometer. The results are compared with other measurements and with atmospheric models. During geomagnetically quiet periods the observed temperatures are reasonably well represented by the empirical model of Hedin et al. (1974). The nightly variations of the zonal and meridional winds follow similar patterns to the predictions of Hernandez and Roble (1977) which are based on the temperature and composition models of Hedin et al. (1977a, b). Observed perturbations of temperature and wind following geomagnetic disturbance are qualitatively consistent with heat input to the auroral oval. The coefficient of increase of thermospheric temperature with Kp is about twice that reported by most others. © 1979.