Dynamics of the lower thermosphere consistent with satellite observations of 5577 A airglow. I - Method of analysis. II Atomic oxygen, local turbulence, and global circulation results

Numerical solutions of the continuity equation for atomic oxygen in the altitude range 80 to 120 km have been obtained for the purpose of investigating the various possible causes of latitudinal and seasonal variation in the atomic oxygen layer. The calculations take into account both photochemical and dynamical processes. Included in the dynamical processes are transport due to molecular diffusion, eddy turbulence, and time-independent macroscopic winds. The model allows the influence of these transport processes on the atomic oxygen altitude profile to be quantitatively evaluated. It is designed to provide a method to characterize the atomic oxygen profile by physical parameters for subsequent use in the interpretation of long-term temporal and latitudinal variation of 5577 A airglow observations.