[en] The ultraviolet nitric oxide spectrometer (UVNO) experiment on the Atmosphere Explorer D (AE-D) satellite measured thermospheric nitric oxide during the winter of 1974-1975 using resonant fluorescence from the 1-0 gamma band of the molecule. Almost complete latitude coverage was obtained, but the observations were confined to morning local times close to 0900. The 1-0 gamma band intensity profiles measured by the instrument were inverted to provide vertical profiles of the NO number density between about 90 and 200 km. Typically, the measured NO concentrations reached a maximum between altitudes of 100 and 110 km, and more NO was observed at higher latitudes than at low latitudes, in agreement with previous observational studies. The shape of the NO profile was also found to be a function of latitude, with a plateau appearing in the profile near 130 km for low latitudes and mid-latitudes in the winter hemisphere.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Cravens, T. E.; Michigan, University, Ann Arbor
Gérard, Jean-Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Lecompte, M.; Colorado, University, Boulder
Stewart, A. I.; Colorado, University, Boulder
Rusch, D. W.; Colorado, University, Boulder
Language :
English
Title :
The global distribution of nitric oxide in the thermosphere as determined by the Atmosphere Explorer D satellite
Publication date :
01 October 1985
Journal title :
Journal of Geophysical Research
ISSN :
0148-0227
eISSN :
2156-2202
Publisher :
American Geophysical Union (AGU), Washington, United States - District of Columbia