Energetic electron precipitation and the NO abundance in the upper atmosphere: A direct comparison during a geomagnetic storm
Energetic electron precipitation and the NO abundance in the upper atmosphere: A direct comparison during a geomagnetic storm
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高能电子沉淀和高层大气中的 NO 丰度:地磁风暴期间的直接比较
DOI:
10.1029/2004ja010485
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发表时间:
2004
影响因子:
--
通讯作者:
N. Østgaard
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
C. Sætre;J. Stadsnes;H. Nesse;A. Aksnes;S. Petrinec;C. Barth;D. Baker;R. Vondrak;N. Østgaard
[1] Nitric oxide (NO) densities at heights between 96 and 150 km in the Earth’s upper atmosphere are directly compared with the energy deposition from precipitating energetic electrons. The comparisons are done for the beginning of a geomagnetic storm event on 2 May 1998. The electron energy is derived from X-ray bremsstrahlung observations from the Polar Ionospheric X-ray Imaging Experiment (PIXIE) on board the Polar spacecraft. Measurements of the NO density are performed by the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) on the dayside by measuring airglow spectral features of the NO g-band. Since a significant part of the electron precipitation takes place during the night, and considering the long lifetime of NO, we have accumulated the X-ray data in geographical boxes. This enables us to follow the development of the total energy deposition over a specific area during the night and morning hours. In agreement with theoretical predictions we find an increase in NO at higher latitudes due to electron precipitation. At 106 km altitude, which is found to be the average altitude of the peak values of both NO intensity and precipitating electron energy, 83% of the NO density is produced by electron precipitation. At this altitude we find that the electron precipitation results in the production of 8 NO molecules per keV deposited energy. The comparison of the data also shows effects of a horizontal neutral wind. Above 100 km the peak in NO density is displaced equatorward of the peak in electron energy deposition. INDEX TERMS: 2716 Magnetospheric Physics: Energetic particles, precipitating; 2736 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere/ ionosphere interactions; 2437 Ionosphere: Ionospheric dynamics; 2407 Ionosphere: Auroral ionosphere (2704); 2455 Ionosphere: Particle precipitation; KEYWORDS: PIXIE, SNOE, nitric oxide, electron precipitation