Ozone and airglow in the mesosphere region

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a photometric study of the hydroxyl bands (7-2) and (8-3) in the night airglow spectrum at Mt. Abu in the winter and spring of 1966-1972. The observed nocturnal variation differs from the variation expected from the theoretical studies of Hesstvedt, Hunt, Shimazaki and others. Instead of a gradual fall in intensity after sunset to shortly before sunrise, a peak in intensity is found at a time which changes from month to month and roughly coincides with the transit times of the X-ray star TAU (XR-1)-Crab Nebula. Anexplanation of the observed phenomenon is offered in terms of the increased energy output into the D and E regions of the atmospheres, increased eddy diffusion, and production, of additional O(³P) and O₃ in the region 80-95 km. O₃ reacting with H gives rise to OH.