Skip to main content
  • Article
  • Published:

630 nm nightglow observations from 17°N latitude

Abstract

Regular measurements of [OI] 630 nm nightglow have been carried out at Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E, dip lat 10.6°N) in India with the help of tilting filter photometers during clear moonless nights. Several characteristic nightglow data sets are presented in the report for geomagnetically quiet and disturbed nights. A comparison has been made between the simultaneous nightglow and the ionospheric parameters of virtual F-layer height and critical frequency of the F-layer at Ahmedabad (23.02°N, 72.6°E). In general, a good correlation (c.c. = 0.8 to 0.9) is found between the measured airglow emission and F-region peak electron densities during quiet periods but for intense magnetic disturbances the airglow fluctuations are mainly controlled by sharp changes in height variations of the h′ F layer. The period of airglow variation generally corresponds to periods of F-region height variation during magnetic disturbances. Using a long series of data between December 1989 and April 1996, the mean seasonal nocturnal variations of 630 nm emission have been compared during high and low solar activity periods.

References

  • Dickinson, R. E., E. C. Reddy, and R. G. Roble, Meridional circulation in the thermosphere 1. Equinox condition, J. Atmos. Sci., 32, 1737–1747, 1975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fesen, C. G., G. Crowley, and R. G. Roble, Ionospheric effects at low latitudes during March 22, 1979, Geomagnetic storm, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 5405–5417, 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mende, S. B., H. U. Frey, S. P. Geller, and G. R. Swenson, Gravity wave modulated Airglow Observation from Space Craft, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 757–760, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendillo, M., J. Baumgardner, D. Nottingham, J. Aarons, B. Reinisch, J. Scali, and M. Kelly, Investigations of thermospheric-ionospheric dynamics with 6300 Å images from the Arecibo Observatory, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 7331–7342, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misawa, K. and I. Takeuchi, Magnetic activity and quasi-periodic variations of intensityofthe oxygen green and red lines, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 44(2), 179–182, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misawa, K. and I. Takeuchi, Simultaneous observations of progressive intensifications of the oxygen red line in the four cardinal directions, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 46, 105–108, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misawa, K., I. Takeuchi, Y. Kato, and I. Aoyama, Generation of Intensity covariations of the Oxygen green and red lines in the nightglow, Ann. Geophys., 2(1), 77–82, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. G. and E. J. Weber, OI 6300 Å airglow measurements of equatorial plasma depletions, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 43, 851–858, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, G. K. and P. L. Dyson, A filter tilting photometer for nightglow measurements of 630.0 nm emission line, Ind. J. Radio and Space Phys., 21, 212–218, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, H. N. R. and J. H. Sastri, Characteristics of the equatorial midnight temperature maximumin the Indian Sector, Ann. Geophys., 12, 276–278, 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rishbeth, H., R. Gordon, D. Rees, and T. J. Fuller-Rowell, Modelling of thermospheric composition changes caused by a severe magnetic storm, Planet. Space Sci., 33, 1283–1301, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roble, R. G., R. E. Dickinson, and E. C. Ridley, Global circulation and temperature structure of the thermosphere with high latitude plasma convection, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 1599–1606, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahai, Y., H. Takahashi, J. A. Bittencourt, J. H. A. Sobral, and N. R. Teixeira, Solar and Seasonal variations of the low latitude OI 630 nm nightglow, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 50(2), 135–140, 1988a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahai, Y., J. A. Bittencourt, H. Takahashi, N. R. Teixeira, J. H. A. Sobral, B. A. Tinsley, and R. P. Rohrbaugh, Multispectral optical observations of ionospheric F-region storm effects at low latitude, Planet. Space Sci., 36(4), 371–381, 1988b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahai, Y., J. A. Bittencourt, H. Takahashi, N. R. Teixeira, B. A. Tinsley, and R. P. Rohrbaugh, Analysis of storm-time low-latitude simultaneous ionosphere and nightglow emission measurements, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 52, 749–757, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobral, J. H. A., G. L. Borba, M. A. Abdu, I. S. Batista, H. Sawant, C. J. Zamlutti, H. Takahashi, and Y. Nakamura, Post-sunset winter time 630.0 nm airglow perturbations associated with gravity waves at low latitudes in the South American Sector, J. Atmos. Solar Terr. Phys., 59, 1611–1623, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, T., H. Oya, and S. Watanabe, Ionospheric disturbances induced by storm associated electric fields in the low latitude F-region, J. Geomag. Geoelectr., 39, 187–209, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanzandt, T. E. and V. L. Peterson, Detailed maps of tropical 6300 Å nightglow enhancements and their implications on the ionospheric F2 layer, Ann. Geophys., 24, 747–759, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. K. Mukherjee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mukherjee, G.K., Carlo, L. & Mahajan, S.H. 630 nm nightglow observations from 17°N latitude. Earth Planet Sp 52, 105–110 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351618

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351618

Keywords