Meteorological Results from Multi-Spectral Photometry in Airglow Bands by the OGO-4 Satellite

Abstract

The presence or absence of clouds, their characteristics, and variations of surface albedo have been correlated with observations made at several different wavelengths in the visible spectrum. These were made at high and low nighttime light levels by an airglow photometer aboard the OGO-4 satellite during August 1967 through January 1968. The wavelength regions studied were approximately 50 Å bands centered at 3914, 5577, 5893, 6225 and 6300 Å, in the energy range of 10?7 to 10?3 erg cm?2 sec?1 Å?1 ster?1 with a field of view of ?10 degrees. It was found that at the longer wavelengths (6225 and 6300 Å) the observations were strongly influenced by the variations of surface albedo. At the shorter wavelengths, the surface albedo variations were partly masked by the light returned through Rayleigh and Mie scattering. Preliminary analysis is made of surface and clouds by study of reflective radiance under moonlight and other nocturnal illuminations. Possibilities of further analysis are examined including methods of deducing cloud height information.