Wind in the Upper Thermosphere
Class
Article
Department
Physics
Faculty Mentor
Alan Marchant
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Using the Split-Field Etalon Doppler Imager or SEDI (developed at USU) measurements of winds in the thermosphere were take from a high altitude balloon. Using interferometry, precise measurements of the wavelength of the red line atomic oxygen airglow reaching the balloon payload. These measurements are compared to an onboard calibration source as well as to the spectral lines of atomic oxygen. The change in wavelength represents a source that is with respect to the balloon, due to the Doppler effect. A moving source in the case of red line airglow is representative of thermospheric winds at altitudes between 200-350 km. This data is compiled and analyzed to find the windspeed in the red line airglow.
Start Date
4-9-2015 1:30 PM
Wind in the Upper Thermosphere
Using the Split-Field Etalon Doppler Imager or SEDI (developed at USU) measurements of winds in the thermosphere were take from a high altitude balloon. Using interferometry, precise measurements of the wavelength of the red line atomic oxygen airglow reaching the balloon payload. These measurements are compared to an onboard calibration source as well as to the spectral lines of atomic oxygen. The change in wavelength represents a source that is with respect to the balloon, due to the Doppler effect. A moving source in the case of red line airglow is representative of thermospheric winds at altitudes between 200-350 km. This data is compiled and analyzed to find the windspeed in the red line airglow.