Storm-time behaviors of O/N2 and NO variations
Abstract |
<p>Algorithms have been developed to extract net nitric oxide (NO) radiances in the wavelength range of 172\textendash182\ nm from the dayside TIMED/GUVI spectrograph data and convert them to NO column density (100\textendash150\ km). The thermospheric O/N<sub>2</sub> column density ratios (referenced from an altitude ~135\ km with a N<sub>2</sub>column density of 10<sup>17</sup>\ cm<sup>-2</sup>) are also obtained from the spectrograph data. The spatial resolution of the NO and O/N<sub>2</sub> products along the GUVI orbit is 240\ km. The coincident O/N<sub>2</sub> ratio and NO column density maps during a few geomagnetic storms reveal two major features: (1) Storm-time O/N<sub>2</sub> 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/N<sub>2</sub> depletion on a local scale. The similarity between O/N<sub>2</sub> depletion and NO enhancement on global scale is due to storm-time equatorward meridional wind that brings both O/N<sub>2</sub> 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/N<sub>2</sub> and NO variations, and long life time of NO (one day or longer) may explain the different behaviors of O/N<sub>2</sub> and NO on a local scale.</p>
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Year of Publication |
2014
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Journal |
Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
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Volume |
114
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Number of Pages |
42-49
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Date Published |
07/2014
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ISSN Number |
13646826
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URL |
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S136468261400087X
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DOI |
10.1016/j.jastp.2014.04.003
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