The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow
The recent finding of an orange spectral feature in OSIRIS/Odin spectra of the night airglow near 87 km has raised interest in the origin of the emission. The feature was positively identified as the chemiluminescent FeO* emission where the iron is of meteoric origin. Since the meteorite source of a...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2011-09-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/9595/2011/acp-11-9595-2011.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818954471694139392 |
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| author | W. F. J. Evans R. L. Gattinger A. L. Broadfoot E. J. Llewellyn |
| author_facet | W. F. J. Evans R. L. Gattinger A. L. Broadfoot E. J. Llewellyn |
| author_sort | W. F. J. Evans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The recent finding of an orange spectral feature in OSIRIS/Odin spectra of the night airglow near 87 km has raised interest in the origin of the emission. The feature was positively identified as the chemiluminescent FeO* emission where the iron is of meteoric origin. Since the meteorite source of atomic metals in the mesosphere contains both iron and nickel, with Ni being typically 6 % of Fe, it is expected that faint emissions involving Ni should also be present in the night airglow. The present study summarizes the laboratory observations of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions and includes a search for the NiO* signature in the night airglow. A very faint previously unidentified "continuum" extending longwave of 440 nm has been detected in the night airglow spectra obtained with two space-borne limb viewing instruments. Through a comparison with laboratory spectra this continuum is identified as arising from the NiO* emission. The altitude profile of the new airglow emission has also been measured. The similarity of the altitude profiles of the FeO* and NiO* emissions also suggests the emission is NiO as both can originate from reaction of the metal atoms with mesospheric ozone. The observed NiO* to FeO* ratio exhibits considerable variability; possible causes of this observed variation are briefly discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:22:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e90406efebaa4517a2b129160597ff8b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:22:42Z |
| publishDate | 2011-09-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-e90406efebaa4517a2b129160597ff8b2022-12-21T19:43:53ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242011-09-0111189595960310.5194/acp-11-9595-2011The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglowW. F. J. EvansR. L. GattingerA. L. BroadfootE. J. LlewellynThe recent finding of an orange spectral feature in OSIRIS/Odin spectra of the night airglow near 87 km has raised interest in the origin of the emission. The feature was positively identified as the chemiluminescent FeO* emission where the iron is of meteoric origin. Since the meteorite source of atomic metals in the mesosphere contains both iron and nickel, with Ni being typically 6 % of Fe, it is expected that faint emissions involving Ni should also be present in the night airglow. The present study summarizes the laboratory observations of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions and includes a search for the NiO* signature in the night airglow. A very faint previously unidentified "continuum" extending longwave of 440 nm has been detected in the night airglow spectra obtained with two space-borne limb viewing instruments. Through a comparison with laboratory spectra this continuum is identified as arising from the NiO* emission. The altitude profile of the new airglow emission has also been measured. The similarity of the altitude profiles of the FeO* and NiO* emissions also suggests the emission is NiO as both can originate from reaction of the metal atoms with mesospheric ozone. The observed NiO* to FeO* ratio exhibits considerable variability; possible causes of this observed variation are briefly discussed.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/9595/2011/acp-11-9595-2011.pdf |
| spellingShingle | W. F. J. Evans R. L. Gattinger A. L. Broadfoot E. J. Llewellyn The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow |
| title_full | The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow |
| title_fullStr | The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow |
| title_full_unstemmed | The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow |
| title_short | The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow |
| title_sort | observation of chemiluminescent nio emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/9595/2011/acp-11-9595-2011.pdf |
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