Longitudinally asymmetric transport of nitric oxide in the E-region

T. E. Cravens; T. L. Killeen

doi:10.1016/0032-0633(88)90142-0

Longitudinally asymmetric transport of nitric oxide in the E-region

T. E. Cravens, T. L. Killeen

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Abstract

Rocket and satellite studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) in the thermosphere is almost always more abundant at higher than at lower latitudes. The ultraviolet nitric oxide spectrometer (UVNO) on the Atmosphere Explorer C (AE-C) spacecraft observed longitudinal asymmetries in thermospheric NO with greater abundances existing in the longitudinal sector associated with the magnetic poles of both hemispheres. This asymmetry persists even in geomagnetic coordinates. In this paper, we suggest an explanation for the longitudinal asymmetry, using neutral parcel trajectories calculated from the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM). It is evident from a study of these calculated trajectories that certain longitudes are favored for equatorward transport out of the auroral zone in the E-region. These favored longitudes are those associated with the magnetic poles, where NO is most abundant.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	11-19
Number of pages	9
Journal	Planetary and Space Science
Volume	36
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-0633(88)90142-0
State	Published - 1988
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1016/0032-0633(88)90142-0

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title = "Longitudinally asymmetric transport of nitric oxide in the E-region",

abstract = "Rocket and satellite studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) in the thermosphere is almost always more abundant at higher than at lower latitudes. The ultraviolet nitric oxide spectrometer (UVNO) on the Atmosphere Explorer C (AE-C) spacecraft observed longitudinal asymmetries in thermospheric NO with greater abundances existing in the longitudinal sector associated with the magnetic poles of both hemispheres. This asymmetry persists even in geomagnetic coordinates. In this paper, we suggest an explanation for the longitudinal asymmetry, using neutral parcel trajectories calculated from the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM). It is evident from a study of these calculated trajectories that certain longitudes are favored for equatorward transport out of the auroral zone in the E-region. These favored longitudes are those associated with the magnetic poles, where NO is most abundant.",

author = "Cravens, {T. E.} and Killeen, {T. L.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements--The work was supported in part by NSF grant numbers ATM-8412828, ATM-8610085 and ATM-8508753 to the University of Michigan. One of the authors (TLK) is grateful to Dr R. G. Roble of the High Altitude Observatory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research for providing access to the NCAR TGCM and for numerous stimulating discussions.",

year = "1988",

doi = "10.1016/0032-0633(88)90142-0",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "11--19",

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issn = "0032-0633",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Longitudinally asymmetric transport of nitric oxide in the E-region

AU - Cravens, T. E.

AU - Killeen, T. L.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements--The work was supported in part by NSF grant numbers ATM-8412828, ATM-8610085 and ATM-8508753 to the University of Michigan. One of the authors (TLK) is grateful to Dr R. G. Roble of the High Altitude Observatory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research for providing access to the NCAR TGCM and for numerous stimulating discussions.

PY - 1988

Y1 - 1988

N2 - Rocket and satellite studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) in the thermosphere is almost always more abundant at higher than at lower latitudes. The ultraviolet nitric oxide spectrometer (UVNO) on the Atmosphere Explorer C (AE-C) spacecraft observed longitudinal asymmetries in thermospheric NO with greater abundances existing in the longitudinal sector associated with the magnetic poles of both hemispheres. This asymmetry persists even in geomagnetic coordinates. In this paper, we suggest an explanation for the longitudinal asymmetry, using neutral parcel trajectories calculated from the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM). It is evident from a study of these calculated trajectories that certain longitudes are favored for equatorward transport out of the auroral zone in the E-region. These favored longitudes are those associated with the magnetic poles, where NO is most abundant.

AB - Rocket and satellite studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) in the thermosphere is almost always more abundant at higher than at lower latitudes. The ultraviolet nitric oxide spectrometer (UVNO) on the Atmosphere Explorer C (AE-C) spacecraft observed longitudinal asymmetries in thermospheric NO with greater abundances existing in the longitudinal sector associated with the magnetic poles of both hemispheres. This asymmetry persists even in geomagnetic coordinates. In this paper, we suggest an explanation for the longitudinal asymmetry, using neutral parcel trajectories calculated from the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM). It is evident from a study of these calculated trajectories that certain longitudes are favored for equatorward transport out of the auroral zone in the E-region. These favored longitudes are those associated with the magnetic poles, where NO is most abundant.

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Longitudinally asymmetric transport of nitric oxide in the E-region

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