Articles | Volume 18, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-000-1293-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-000-1293-2
31 Oct 2000
31 Oct 2000

Hydroxyl (6−2) airglow emission intensity ratios for rotational temperature determination

W. J. R. French, G. B. Burns, K. Finlayson, P. A. Greet, R. P. Lowe, and P. F. B. Williams

Abstract. OH(6–2) Q1/P1 and R1/P1 airglow emission intensity ratios, for rotational states up to j' = 4.5, are measured to be lower than implied by transition probabilities published by various authors including Mies, Langhoff et al. and Turnbull and Lowe. Experimentally determined relative values of j' transitions yield OH(6–2) rotational temperatures 2 K lower than Langhoff et al., 7 K lower than Mies and 13 K lower than Turnbull and Lowe.

Key words: Atmospheric composition and structure (airglow and aurora; pressure, density and temperature)