Diurnal and seasonal variation of the nighttime OH (8‐3) emission at low latitudes

Abstract

Nighttime morphological maps of the hydroxyl emission (8–3 band) measured by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmosphere Explorer E satellite are presented for solstice and equinox conditions. The volume emission rate profile of the emission was determined by inverting satellite perigee observations. This profile was later used to convert limb measurements into zenith intensities of the emission. A theoretical model has been used to correct twilight observations for the presence of the thermospheric O + (² P ) emission at 7320–7330 Å. The derived morphology agrees well with ground based measurements and theoretical simulations.