OBSERVATIONS OF SPECTRA OF INTENSITY FLUCTUATIONS OF THE OH MEINEL NIGHTGLOW DURING ALOHA-93

Observations of the frequency and 2D horizontal wave number spectra are reported from airglow observations taken at Hawaii an October 8, 1993. The average values for the slopes of the frequency and wave number spectra are -2.2 +/-0.3 and -2.6 +/-0.2, respectively. These results are consistent with the predictions of the separable model of Gardner et al. [1993a] but inconsistent with the diffusive filtering theory of Gardner [1994]. The average frequency spectrum shows little evidence of significant power at periods below 5 minutes, the Brunt-Vaisala period. However, during a single one hour observation period there is increasing power at periods below 3 minutes. This could indicate the presence of acoustic waves at mesopause altitudes.