Richter, Heiko and Buchbender, C. and Güsten, R. and Higgins, R. D. and Klein, Bernd and Stutzki, J. and Wiesemeyer, H. and Hübers, H.-W. (2021) Direct measurements of atomic oxygen in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere using terahertz heterodyne spectroscopy. Communications Earth & Environment, 2 (19). Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s43247-020-00084-5. ISSN 2662-4435.
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Official URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00084-5
Abstract
Atomic oxygen is a main component of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere of the Earth, where it governs photochemistry and energy balance and is a tracer for dynamical motions. However, its concentration is extremely difficult to measure with remote sensing techniques since atomic oxygen has few optically active transitions. Current indirect methods involve photochemical models and the results are not always in agreement, particularly when obtained with different instruments. Here we present direct measurements—independent of photochemical models—of the ground state 3P1 → 3P2 fine-structure transition of atomic oxygen at 4.7448 THz using the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies (GREAT) on board the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). We find that our measurements of the concentration of atomic oxygen agree well with atmospheric models informed by satellite observations. We suggest that this direct observation method may be more accurate than existing indirect methods that rely on photochemical models.
Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/140672/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Document Type: | Article | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Title: | Direct measurements of atomic oxygen in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere using terahertz heterodyne spectroscopy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Authors: |
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Date: | 26 January 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Communications Earth & Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Refereed publication: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Volume: | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1038/s43247-020-00084-5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: | Springer Nature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 2662-4435 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | Published | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keywords: | atomic oxygen, terahertz, heterodyne spectroscopy, MLT, Earth atmosphere | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Research field: | Aeronautics, Space and Transport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program: | Space | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program Themes: | Earth Observation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research area: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Program: | R EO - Earth Observation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research theme (Project): | R - Terahertz spectrometer for atomic oxygen in the mesosphere/thermosphere | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location: | Berlin-Adlershof | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institutes and Institutions: | Institute of Optical Sensor Systems > Terahertz and Laser Spectroscopy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Richter, Dr.rer.nat. Heiko | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 09 Feb 2021 10:07 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 24 May 2022 23:46 |
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