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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. D4, 4151, doi:10.1029/2002JD002474, 2003

A modeling study of O₂ and OH airglow perturbations induced by atmospheric gravity waves

Alan Z. Liu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA

Gary R. Swenson

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA

Abstract

A one-dimensional model is used to investigate the relations between gravity waves and O₂ and OH airglows perturbations. The amplitude and phase of the airglow perturbations induced by gravity waves (with period > 20 min) are calculated for different vertical wavelength (10–50 km) and damping rate. The model shows that for vertically propagating gravity waves, the amplitude of airglow perturbations observed from ground is larger for longer vertical wavelength, because of the smaller cancellation effect within each layer. The ratio of the amplitudes between O₂ and OH is smaller for larger wave damping. For upward propagating (downward phase progression) waves, the intensity perturbation in O₂ leads OH, and their phase difference (O₂ minus OH) is larger for smaller vertical length and/or stronger damping. The rotational temperature perturbation leads intensity perturbation in both layers. Their phase difference is also larger for smaller vertical length but is smaller for stronger damping. Based on these relations, the vertical wavelength and damping rate of gravity waves can be derived from simultaneous measurements of airglow perturbations in O₂ and OH layers.

Published 28 February 2003.

Index Terms: 0310 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Airglow and aurora; 0341 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Middle atmosphere—constituent transport and chemistry (3334); 0394 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Instruments and techniques; 3334 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342); 3384 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Waves and tides.

Subscriber Access to Full Article (Nonsubscribers may purchase for $9.00, Includes print PDF, file size: 1770234 bytes)

Citation: Liu, A. Z., and G. R. Swenson (2003), A modeling study of O₂ and OH airglow perturbations induced by atmospheric gravity waves, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D4), 4151, doi:10.1029/2002JD002474.

Copyright 2003 by the American Geophysical Union.