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Ann. Geophys., 25, 639-643, 2007
www.ann-geophys.net/25/639/2007/
© European Geosciences Union 2007
On the use of simultaneous measurements of OH and O2 emissions to investigate wave growth and dissipation
A. Taori1, A. Guharay1, and M. J. Taylor2
1Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital, India
2Department of Physics, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
Abstract. Simultaneous measurements of mesospheric OH (6–2) Meinel and O2 (0–1)
Atmospheric band emissions from a low-latitude station, Maui, Hawaii
(20.8° N, 156.2° W) are utilized to study the wave characteristics
and associated processes. Deduced temperatures show large variability in
both OH and O2 data. The seasonal variability in the temperature shows
a well-defined, semiannual type of oscillation, which are comparable to the
ground-based rocket sounding data. The "Wave Growth Factor", a ratio of
normalized perturbation amplitude in O2 to the OH temperature
variability, is estimated for principal as well as residual smaller period
components of the nocturnal variability. It is noticed that smaller period waves (less than 12 h) occasionally
have large growth factors of about 3–4 during equinox transitions, an
indication of wave amplitude amplification within the 87–94 km altitudes
while a strong wave-dissipation occurs throughout the year.
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