COMPARISON OF THE OH (8-3) AND (6-2) BAND ROTATIONAL TEMPERATURE OF THE MESOSPHERIC AIRGLOW EMISSIONS

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The airglow OH (8-3) and (6-2) band rotational temperatures were measured and compared using two scanning photometer at Cachoeira Paulista (23°S, 45°W) in 1999. The rotational temperature were obtained from the ratio between the P₁(5) and P₁(3) in the case of the (8-3) band and P₁(4) and P₁(2) lines for the (6-2) band. Three different Einstein coefficients, of Mies (1974), Langhoff et al., (1986) and Turnbull & Lowe (1989) were used and compared between them. It was shown that both the temperature did agree well with in an error range when the Langhoff et al.'s coefficients were used.

Keywords :Mesosphere; hydroxyl; rotational temperature; Einstein coefficients.

RESUMO

A temperatura rotacional das bandas da OH(8-3) e OH(6-2) foram medidas e comparadas utilizando dois fotômetros de filtro inclinável, em Cachoeira Paulista (23°S, 45°O) no ano de 1999. A temperatura rotacional foi determinada através da razão entre as linhas rotacionais P₁(5) and P₁(3) para o caso da banda (8-3) e entre as linhas rotacionais P₁(4) e P₁(2) para a banda (6-2). Os coeficientes de Einstein publicados por Mies (1974), Langhoff et al., (1986) e Turnbull & Lowe (1989) foram utilizados para o cálculo da temperatura e seus resultados foram comparados. Os resultados encontrados mostram que as temperaturas das bandas OH(8-3) e OH(6-2) são similares, dentro da margem de erro, quando os coeficientes de Einstein de Langhoff et al. foram utilizados.

Keywords :Mesosfera; hidroxila; temperatura rotacional; coeficientes de Einstein.