Excitation Mechanism for the Atomic Oxygen and OH Emissions in the Night Airglow

✍ Scribed by H. I. Schiff

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2010
• Weight: 510 KB
• Volume: 71
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0037-9646
• DOI: 10.1002/bscb.19620711111

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The detailed mechanisms for excitation of all the night glow emissions remain very much in doubt. The green atomic oxygen line appears to be excited by a modification of the Chapman mechanism, although recent laboratory studies still show some inconsistent features. The red atomic oxygen line most likely results from the atomic exchange reaction between 0^+^ ions and either N~2~ or O~2~. However, comparison of laboratory measurements and airglow observations suggests these reactions have low pre‐exponential factors. Recent laboratory measurements and Nicolet's estimate of the H‐atom concentration at 85 km indicate that the reaction between H‐atoms and ozone remains the most attractive process for excitation of the OH emission. It is shown that the mechanisms suggested by Krassovsky are not as likely as the H — O~3~ process.