The Kinetics of O2 Singlet Electronic States in the Upper and Middle Atmosphere During Energetic Electron Precipitation

Abstract

AbstractThe electronic kinetics of O2 singlet states a1Δg and b1 in the upper and middle atmosphere of the Earth during energetic electron precipitation is considered. Intramolecular and intermolecular electron energy transfers in inelastic collisions of electronically excited molecular oxygen and molecular nitrogen with O2 and N2 molecules are taken into account in the calculations. The calculations indicate an influence of atmospheric density increase on the calculated volume intensity of 762 nm emission. For the first time, it is shown the dependence of the calculated column intensity ratios of 1.27 μm and 762 nm bands on the energy of auroral and relativistic electrons (40 keV to 10 MeV) and on time of the precipitation. Applying the calculated integral intensities of the bands, we have calculated column intensities of 762 nm and 1.27 μm bands for 12 most intensive events of energetic electron precipitations observed in the polar atmosphere during 2003–2014.