Behavior of the Sodium and Hydroxyl Nighttime Emissions During a Stratospheric Warming

Abstract

The behavior of the sodium and hydroxyl nighttime emissions during a stratospheric warming has been studied principally by use of data from the airglow photometers on the OGO 4 satellite. During the late stages of a major warming, both emissions increased appreciably, with the sodium emission returning to normal values prior to the decrease in the hydroxyl emission. The emission behaviors are attributed to temperature and density variations from 70 to 94 km, and a one-dimensional hydrostatic model for that altitude range is used to calculate the effects on the emissions and on the mesospheric ozone densities. These results support the existence of a warming in the upper part of the mesosphere that is correlated with a major stratospheric warming.