LWIR (7-24 Micrometer) Measurements from the Launch of a Rocketborne Spectrometer Into an Aurora (1973)

LWIR (7-24 Micrometer) Measurements from the Launch of a Rocketborne Spectrometer Into an Aurora (1973)
Author: James W. Rogers
Publisher:
Total Pages: 132
Release: 1976
Genre: Auroras
ISBN:

A liquid-helium-cooled, long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) spectrometer was successfully launched by the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory onboard a Black Brant VC rocket (A18.006-2) on 22 Mar 1973 from the University of Alaska's Poker Flat Research Range at Chatanika, Alaska. This flight was part of the Defense Nuclear Agency ICECAP 73 Program. The spectrometer, which employs a circular-variable filter (CVF), was developed by AFGL and Utah State University and has provided the first measurements of the altitude profile of the infrared spectrum of the upper-atmospheric emissions between 7 and 24 micrometers. During an IBC II aurora, data were obtained on the 15-micrometer carbon dioxide emission from 65 to 150 km and on the 9.6 micrometer ozone emission between 45 and 100 km. In addition, emission data on the long-wavelength wing of the 6.3 micrometer water band between 6.7 and 7.6 micrometers were also obtained between 50 and 75 km. Above 100 km, significant unidentified emission was observed at 9.3 micrometers with weaker features at 6.9, 7.3, 8.0, 11.1, and 12.3 micrometers. This report documents in detail the data obtained along with the rocket and payload performance, the auroral conditions at launch and a comparison with theoretical models.

Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts

Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 508
Release: 1977
Genre: Astrophysics
ISBN:

Covering the world's literature on meteorology, climatology, atmospheric chemistry and physics, physical oceanography, hydrology, glaciology, and related environmental sciences.

Instrumentation Analysis and Data Processing for Rocketborne LWIR Spectrometers

Instrumentation Analysis and Data Processing for Rocketborne LWIR Spectrometers
Author: James W. Rodgers
Publisher:
Total Pages: 56
Release: 1975
Genre: Atmosphere, Upper
ISBN:

A liquid-helium-cooled long-wavelength infrared spectrometer was successfully launched on 22 March 1973 from the Poker Flats Research Facility, Alaska. This spectrometer, which employed a circular variable filter (CVF), was developed over a period of five years and provided the first measurements of the infrared spectrum of the upper atmospheric emissions between 7 and 24 micrometers. The data processing proceeded in a step-by-step manner to provide accurate final data with error limits and an understanding of the spectrometer performance. Each step of the data processing is presented in this report which will provide engineers with information on the spectrometer performance and data analysts with the basis for the final assignment of error limits. Similar procedures can also be used for the data reduction of other CVF flights.

Rocket-borne Spectral Measurement of Atmospheric Infrared Emission During a Quiet Condition in the Auroral Zone

Rocket-borne Spectral Measurement of Atmospheric Infrared Emission During a Quiet Condition in the Auroral Zone
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 110
Release: 1976
Genre: Atmospheric physics
ISBN:

A Nike-Javelin rocket (NJ-74-1) was launched at Poker Flat, Alaska, on 11 Apr 74 at 0801 hours UT during a non-auroral condition. A near-zenith spectral radiance profile was obtained from 54 km to an apogee of 118 km on ascent and from 118 km down to about 85.6 km on descent, using a circular variable filter spectrometer. About 464 spectral scans were obtained during flight, covering the range from 1.7 to 5.4 micrometers at a resolution of about 4 percent. The dominant emission feature was at 4.3 micrometer, which is attributed to the CO2 nu3 fundamental. The upward viewed spectral radiance appeared to range from about 215 MRmicrometer at 54 km to less than the noise equivalent spectral radiance of 3 MR /micrometer at 118 km. In this report are given the first quiet condition (no aurora) rocket data in the auroral zone. (Author).

Rocketborne Measurements of Optical Emissions from the Auroral E-layer

Rocketborne Measurements of Optical Emissions from the Auroral E-layer
Author: Roger A. Van Tassel
Publisher:
Total Pages: 64
Release: 1982
Genre: Atmosphere, Upper
ISBN:

The overall objective of the AFGL Auroral-E Program is to develop a system to specify the electron density in the auroral E-layer by remote sensing of optical emissions. The first step in meeting this objective was a careful input-output experiment conducted in Alaska during March 1981. This experiment included satellite measurements of the source particle stream; rocket measurements of the optical emissions, electron and proton fluxes and electron, neutral and ion densities, neutral winds and electromagnetic fields; airborne measurements to provide data to assess the auroral and ionospheric conditions prior to and during launch; and incoherent scatter radar measurements to provide neutral wind, electric field and electron density data. These data will be used to establish a quantitative relationship among the precipitating particles, the resulting electron density profiles and the optical emissions from several species in the continuous or diffuse aurora. This report gives the results of the rocket-borne filter photometer experiment.

Rocketborne Measurement of an Infrared Enhancement Associated with a Bright Auroral Breakup

Rocketborne Measurement of an Infrared Enhancement Associated with a Bright Auroral Breakup
Author: K. D. Baker
Publisher:
Total Pages: 108
Release: 1977
Genre: Auroras
ISBN:

A Paiute-Tomahawk sounding rocket containing a 1.5-5.3 micrometers cryogenically cooled spectrometer was flown into a very bright (IBC III+) auroral breakup from Poker Flat, Alaska. The main emission features at 2.8, 4.3, and 5.3 micrometers were all found to be enhanced due to the large energy input to the atmosphere associated with the aurora. The most prominent enhancement occurred in the 4.3 micrometers region. (Author).