Abstract
The temporal variation of OH* emission and weighted rotational temperature has been studied for high-latitude summer conditions. Observations for 60°N latitude show OH weighted temperatures that always exceed 145 K even during periods of noctilucent clouds. Using a one-dimensional model the effects in excited OH concentration produced by changes in temperature, eddy diffusion, and water concentration have been analysed. We are forced to conclude that there remains a discrepancy between the OH temperatures predicted by the model and that obtained from OH* measurements. An increase in OH* concentration from June to the beginning of August, followed by a slow decrease during August has been obtained in agreement with the measurements. The 16-day modulation present in the measurements was simulated in a simple manner by varying the temperature in the mesopause region. This variation produces periodic modulations in both OH* concentration and weighted temperature of 16 days. The results show the temperature leading the OH* column concentration by three days. This phase shift is also present in the observations.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
López-González, M.J., Murtagh, D.P., Espy, P.J. et al. A model study of the temporal behaviour of the emission intensity and rotational temperature of the OH Meinel bands for high-latitude summer conditions. Annales Geophysicae 14, 59–67 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-996-0059-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-996-0059-x