Abstract
Simultaneous measurements of the nightglow profiles of the O 2( b 1 Σ g +− X 3 Σ g −) A-band, the atomic oxygen green line and the OH (8−3) Meinel band are presented. The altitude profiles are used to determine both the excitation mechanisms for the oxygen emissions and the atomic oxygen altitude distribution. It is shown that the measurements are consistent with a green line excitation through the Barth mechanism and that the molecular oxygen emission is excited through oxygen recombination and the reaction between OH ∗ and atomic oxygen. The derived atomic oxygen concentrations,6.2 × 10 11cm −3 at 98km, are consistent with the Jacchia (1971) model.
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