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Neutral Composition Information in ICON EUV Dayglow Observations
Richard M Tuminello1,2, Scott L England1, Martin M Sirk3
1Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg VA USA.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
|October 17, 2022
Summary
The NASA ICON mission uses extreme-UV airglow to study Earth's upper atmosphere. This study reveals a new nitrogen emission feature that can also be used to observe the neutral thermosphere.
Area of Science:
- Space Physics
- Atmospheric Science
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Ultraviolet (UV) airglow is crucial for remote sensing of Earth's ionosphere and thermosphere.
- The NASA Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission utilizes UV airglow for atmospheric studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine unutilized dayglow features captured by the ICON EUV spectrometer.
- To demonstrate the utility of a newly identified nitrogen emission feature for thermospheric observation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of extreme-UV (EUV) spectral data from the ICON spacecraft.
- Identification and characterization of specific nitrogen emission features in the EUV spectrum.
Main Results:
- The ICON EUV spectrometer captures various dayglow features beyond those typically used.
- A nitrogen emission feature around 87.8 nm was identified.
- This nitrogen feature shows potential for observing the neutral thermosphere.
Conclusions:
- The ICON EUV instrument provides additional data beyond its primary objectives.
- The 87.8 nm nitrogen feature offers a new avenue for studying the neutral thermosphere.
- Expanding the use of ICON data can enhance our understanding of upper atmospheric dynamics.
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