Atmospheric wave induced O₂ and OH airglow intensity variations: effect of vertical wavelength and damping

Abstract. From nocturnal variations of the airglow O₂ (0-1) and OH Meinel (6-2) band emission intensity and the rotational temperature, gravity waves and the damping effect in the MLT region were investigated. The data set was obtained from photometer measurements at Rikubetsu (43.5° N, 143.8° E), Japan, from March 2004 to August 2005. The ratio of the amplitude of oscillation and their phase difference between the two emissions were calculated when simultaneous periodic variations were observed. The ratio showed a linear correlation with the phase difference. The vertical wavelength and damping rate were estimated by using a model calculation carried out by previous works. The results show that the wave damping is significant when the vertical wavelength is shorter than 30–40 km. Krassovsky's parameter η, which represents a ratio between the emission intensity and temperature oscillations, was also calculated. The results show that the η also depends on the damping effect.