Storm-time behaviors of O/N2 and NO variations

<p>Algorithms have been developed to extract net nitric oxide (NO) radiances in the wavelength range of 172\textendash182\&nbsp;nm from the dayside TIMED/GUVI spectrograph data and convert them to NO column density (100\textendash150\&nbsp;km). The thermospheric O/N₂ column density ratios (referenced from an altitude ~135\&nbsp;km with a N₂column density of 10¹⁷\&nbsp;cm^-2) are also obtained from the spectrograph data. The spatial resolution of the NO and O/N₂ products along the GUVI orbit is 240\&nbsp;km. The coincident O/N₂ ratio and NO column density maps during a few geomagnetic storms reveal two major features: (1) Storm-time O/N₂ depletion and NO enhancement extend from high to mid and low latitudes. They are anti-correlated on a global scale, (2) the NO enhancement covers a wider longitude and latitude region than O/N₂ depletion on a local scale. The similarity between O/N₂ depletion and NO enhancement on global scale is due to storm-time equatorward meridional wind that brings both O/N₂ depleted and NO enhanced air from high to low latitudes. The altitude dependence of the storm-time meridional wind, different peaks altitudes of the local O/N₂ and NO variations, and long life time of NO (one day or longer) may explain the different behaviors of O/N₂ and NO on a local scale.</p>