Hydroxyl airglow observations for investigating atmospheric dynamics: results and challenges

[摘要] Measurements of hydroxyl ( OH * ) airglow intensity are astraightforward and cost-efficient method which allows the derivation of information about the climate and dynamics of the upper mesosphere/lowerthermosphere (UMLT) on different spatiotemporal scales during darkness. Today, instrument components can be bought “off-the-shelf” anddevelopments in detector technology allows operation without cooling, or atleast without liquid nitrogen cooling, which is difficult to automate. Thismakes instruments compact and suitable for automated operation. Here, we briefly summarize why an OH * airglow layer exists, how atmospheric dynamics influence it and how temperature can be derived from OH * airglow measurements. Then, we provide an overview of the scientific results regarding atmospheric dynamics (mainly gravity waves (GWs) but also planetary waves (PWs) and infrasound) achieved with OH * airglow measurements. We focus on long-term ground-based OH * airglow measurements or airglow measurements using a network of ground-based instruments. The paper includes further results from global or near-global satellite-based OH * airglow measurements, which areof special importance for characterizing the OH * airglow layer. Additionally, the results from the very few available airborne case studies using OH * airglow instruments are summarized. Scientific and technical challenges for the next few years are described.

[学科分类] 医学（综合）