Rocketborne Measurements of Optical Emissions from the Auroral E-layer

Roger A. Van Tassel

Jan 1982 · Air Force Geophysics Laboratories, Air Force Systems Command, United States Air Force

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The overall objective of the AFGL Auroral-E Program is to develop a system to specify the electron density in the auroral E-layer by remote sensing of optical emissions. The first step in meeting this objective was a careful input-output experiment conducted in Alaska during March 1981. This experiment included satellite measurements of the source particle stream; rocket measurements of the optical emissions, electron and proton fluxes and electron, neutral and ion densities, neutral winds and electromagnetic fields; airborne measurements to provide data to assess the auroral and ionospheric conditions prior to and during launch; and incoherent scatter radar measurements to provide neutral wind, electric field and electron density data. These data will be used to establish a quantitative relationship among the precipitating particles, the resulting electron density profiles and the optical emissions from several species in the continuous or diffuse aurora. This report gives the results of the rocket-borne filter photometer experiment.