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Characterization of the Semiannual- Oscillation in Mesospheric Temperatures at Low-latitudes

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Advances in Space Research

Volume

35

Issue

11

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

9-2005

First Page

2037

Last Page

2043

Abstract

Novel measurements of the seasonal variability in mesospheric temperature at low-latitudes have been obtained from Maui, Hawaii (20.8°N, 156.2°W) during a 25-month period from October 2001 to January 2004. Independent observations of the OH (6, 2) Meinel band (peak height ∼87 km) and the O2 (0–1) atmospheric band emission (∼94 km) were made using the CEDAR Mesospheric Temperature Mapper. The data revealed a coherent oscillation in emission intensity and rotational temperature with a well-defined periodicity of 181 ± 7 days. The amplitude of this oscillation was determined to be ∼5–6 K in temperature and ∼8–9% in intensity for both the OH and O2 data sets. In addition, a strong asymmetry in the shape of the oscillation was also observed with the spring maximum significantly larger than the fall peak. These data provide new evidence in support of a semi-annual-oscillation in mesospheric temperature (and airglow emission intensities) and help quantify its seasonal characteristics.

Comments

Published by Elsevier in Advances in Space Research.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273117705007209

Publisher PDF is available for download through the link above.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2005.05.111

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