Near-mesopause temperatures registered over Yakutia

• Published in: Journal of atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics 2002-05, Vol.64 (8), p.985-990
• Main Authors: Gavrilyeva, G.A., Ammosov, P.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hydroxyl emission; Mesopause; Nightglow; Rotational temperature; Seasonal variation; Solar effect
• ISSN: 1364-6826; 1879-1824
• DOI: 10.1016/S1364-6826(02)00052-4

The results of night-time near-mesopause temperature measurements carried out with an infrared spectrograph at the Maimaga station (63° N, 129.5° E) near Yakutsk are presented. The kinetic temperature of the mesosphere region around 87 km was determined from the intensity distribution of the rotational lines of a hydroxyl molecular band. Mean temperatures obtained during 217 nights, from August 1997 to April 2000, were used to study seasonal variations of the upper mesosphere temperature and the relationship of temperature changes with solar activity. Analysis of the monthly averaged atmospheric temperature at the height of the nightglow hydroxyl emissions (∼87 km) at various latitudes (Urbana (40° N, 88° W) , Haute-Provence (44° N, 6° E) , Stockholm (59.5° N, 18.2° E) , Yakutsk, and Andenes (69° N, 16° E) ) has shown that seasonal oscillations at Yakutsk closely correspond to high latitude conditions despite the great difference in longitude. At mid-latitudes the mesosphere is warmer in winter while at high latitudes warmer temperature is observed in spring and in autumn. The measurements from Yakutsk suggest that the temperature at the height of the hydroxyl emission increases with solar activity growth.