Mariner 6 and 7 Ultraviolet Spectrometer Experiment: Analysis of hydrogen Lyman-alpha data

Abstract

Four Lyman alpha airglow measurements of the limb and disk of Mars, made by ultraviolet spectrometers on Mariner 6 and 7 in 1969 and Mariner 9 in 1971, are analyzed to determine the amount and distribution of atomic hydrogen above 80 km. The variation of atomic hydrogen with altitude is calculated by using time-independent chemical diffusion models from 80 to 250 km, and an exospheric model is used above 250 km. By employing radiative transfer theory that includes effects of pure absorption and accounts for temperature variations in the atmosphere, a spherical model of the airglow Lyman alpha emission is used to produce theoretical intensities for comparison with the data. It is found that (1) the exospheric temperature and distribution in 1971 are consistent with those determined in 1969, (2) the vertical optical depth above 80 km was 2.2 in 1969 and 5 in 1971, and (3) the derived atomic hydrogen distribution from 80 to 250 km requires a source of atomic hydrogen above 80 km. Comparison of observed profiles with chemical diffusion models implies a large downward flow of atomic hydrogen at 80 km coupled with a large upward flow of molecular hydrogen.-