|
Article Collection: View Collection Help (Click on the  to add an
article.)
Journal of Geophysical Research -- October 20, 1994 -- Volume 99, Issue D10, pp.
21059-21070
 Order
Middle atmosphere response to the solar proton events of October 1989 using the
results of rocket measurements
- A. M. Zadorozhny and V. N. Kikhtenko
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
- G. A. Kokin
- Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast, Russia
- G. A. Tuchkov and A. A. Tyutin
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
- A. F. Chizhov and O. V. Shtirkov
- Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast, Russia
The results of rocket measurements of ozone and nitric oxide concentrations,
vertical component of the electric field strength, positive ion density, and
temperature of the middle atmosphere during the extremely strong solar proton
events (SPE) of October 1989 are presented. The measurements were taken in the
southern hemisphere in the Indian Ocean (40° 60°S and 45°75°E)
on board the research vessel Akademik Shirshov. A great increase
in ion densities above ~ 30 km and nitric oxide concentrations above
~ 40 km with maximum [NO] ~ 2 ? 109 cm 3
at ~ 45- to 55-km heights were observed during the SPE. A decrease in
ozone concentrations above ~ 35 km with the maximum decrease of about 2025%
at ~ 50-km height and cooling of the atmosphere at ~ 40- to 60-km
heights with the maximum temperature decrease of about 14°K near 50 km
were also observed. An unexpectedly large value of the vertical electric field
strength of 12 V/m was detected in the lower mesosphere at about 58 km at
58°30![[script ']](/cgi-bin/getimg?key=JGREA2000099000D10021059000001%3a0%3a0%3a28) S during the SPE. The obtained results on ozone, nitric oxide, ion
concentration, and temperature qualitatively agree with the existing photochemical
concepts on the impact of solar proton events on the middle atmosphere,
while the measured cooling of the stratopause is greater than that predicted by
theoretical models. The increase of the vertical electric field strength
observed during the SPE points out a very high electrical activity of the
mesosphere and unknown generation mechanisms of electrical phenomena in the
middle atmosphere. © American Geophysical Union 1994
PACS: 92.60.Ta, 94.10.Fa Additional
Information
Order
Article Collection: View Collection Help
|
![[Back to Hitlist]](/journal/images/verity/backtohit.gif){kind=small}
![[Prev Document]](/journal/images/verity/prevdoc.gif){kind=small}
![[Next Document]](/journal/images/verity/nextdoc.gif){kind=small}