Accession Number:

AD0701931

Title:

ROCKET MEASUREMENTS OF NITRIC OXIDE IN THE LOWER D-REGION OF THE IONOSPHERE,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV UNIVERSITY PARK IONOSPHERE RESEARCH LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Pontano,B. A.

Report Date:

1970-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

95.0

Abstract:

A rocket borne probe which measures nitric oxide concentration in the D-region has been designed, built, and successfully flown on September 22, 1968, December 6, 1968, and December 12, 1968. The probe measures changes in ionization caused by photo-ionizing neutral nitric oxide with a flashing Lyman-alpha source. The experiment yielded nitric oxide densities greater than 10 to the 8th powercc in the 40-63 rm altitude range. Chemical equilibrium conditions do not explain the observed NO data. Below the mesopause, the atomic nitrogen concentration is so low that a photoequilibrium value of NO cannot be reached. Therefore, nitric oxide must be transported from the lower thermosphere, a region where atomic nitrogen is abundant, into the mesosphere and stratosphere. Author

Descriptors:

• (*IONOSPHERE
• ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING)
• (*NITROGEN OXIDES
• MEASUREMENT)
• IONIZATION
• CHARGED PARTICLES
• INTERACTIONS
• SOUNDING ROCKETS
• SPECTROMETERS

Subject Categories:

• Atmospheric Physics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE