GLO observations of E- and F-region metal atoms and ions

Abstract In addition to the major atmospheric gases and their ions, the D- and E-regions are populated by metal (Na, Mg, Fe, Ca) atoms, compounds, and ions. Visible and ultraviolet resonance scattering and chemiluminescence have been observed by the “GLO” experiment, which includes a ground-controlled shuttle-based UV-vis-IR spectrograph and was flown on three shuttles in 1995. Each flight returned limb-view data on metal atom and ion emissions in the 80 to 350 km tangent height region. Improved optics provided 3 A full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) resolution in the ultraviolet, and simultaneous altitude profiles were routinely measured that spanned 150 km in tangent height with 10 – 15 km resolution. Clouds of metal ions, particularly Mg + , were observed in daytime above 120 km tangent height near the geomagnetic equator. This poster report deals with one segment of the Mg + observations.