Dissociation of Oxygen in the Upper Atmosphere

Abstract

The molecular oxygen content of the upper atmosphere between 110 and 130 km was determined by measuring the transmission of solar radiation in a narrow wavelength band from 1425 to 1500 A. The radiation was detected by means of an ultraviolet photon counter flown in an Aerobee rocket. At 130 km the concentration of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ was ${10}^{10}$ per cc. On the basis of the Rocket Panel density scale, 12 percent of the atmospheric oxygen was still undissociated.