F-region Nightglow Emissions of Atomic Oxygen

Résumé du livre

The theory of the normal 6300 Å [OI] nightglow, as previously given by other authors, is refined and generalized to include the other F-region nightglow oxygen emissions. The assumptions made in both this refined theory and in the earlier ones are examined critically. The height variations of the emission profiles are then discussed and various approximate expressions, appropriate to different height ranges, are developed. Finally, various forms of an approximation to the integrated emission rate are given, one of these forms being the well-known Barbier semi-empirical formula for the 6300 Å nightglow.An appendix gives the justification for assuming quasi-equilibrium in the pertinent continuity equations. This appendix should be of interest in many aspects of ionospheric physics other than nightglow theory.