Infrared Radiance Model for the Aurorally Disturbed Atmosphere

Abstract : Recently, auroral observations have indicated the strong enhancement of certain infrared bands during periods of auroral activity. A theoretical model has been created in order to study the infrared processes associated with the aurora. The quantitative results of this study depend upon a thorough knowledge of the rates of all processes involved. Some of the rate constants are well known while for others only the crudest approximation is made. Qualitatively, however, results indicate that certain infrared bands of CO2, N2O, NO, and NO+ are strongly enhanced during periods of auroral activity. This is primarily the result of two basic energy exchange mechanisms. The energy deposited by the primary auroral electron flux goes into increasing the internal energy of N2, O2, and O. In addition to energetic auroral particles as an energy source, electric fields are also considered. Qualitatively the results are similar except that the energy tends to be deposited at altitudes somewhat higher than in direct precipitation processes.