Rocket-borne radiometric measurements of OH in the auroral zone

An Astrobee D rocket carrying a dual-channel radiometer (1.40- to 1.65-μm and 1.85- to 2.12-μm spectral band passes) was launched on March 6, 1972, at 0200 LT from Poker Flat, Alaska. The spectral band passes were chosen so that the lower (ν = 2, 3, 4, 5) and upper (ν = 7, 8, 9) vibrational levels of OH in the Δν = 2 sequence could be monitored simultaneously. Launch criteria were established from ground-based radiometric observations that indicated a steady night airglow of 240 kR in the 1.40- to 1.65-μm band pass 2 hours prior to and throughout the flight. Altitude profiles of OH emission were derived from data from both channels and show OH to be layered, peak volume emissions occurring at 83.5 km. Under the assumption that H + O3 → OH‡ + O2 is the principal production mechanism, synthetic spectra were integrated over the instrument spectral response characteristics of the two radiometer channels. At altitudes above 83 km, quenching due to the reaction OH‡ + O → O2 + H is evident, which requires an atomic oxygen concentration of 1011 cm−3 at 83 km, increasing to 8 × 1011 cm−3 at 88 km.

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