Optical spectra of the cleft aurora in the region 5000 - 8500 Å were
measured in December, 1977 at Cape Parry, N.W.T. A Michelson interferometer
was used at a resolution of 10 cm-1.
The auroral features observed were OI (5577, 6300-64, 7774,
8446 Å), OII (7319-30 Å), NI (5200 Å), Ha,
O2 Atm (1,1), some weak N2 1P bands and possibly some
Meinel bands of N2+. In addition, nightglow emissions
of Na and OH were observed. Theoretical predictions of the OI and NI emission
rates using the model of Link et al. (1980) fit the observed rates
reasonably well if a 40 eV Maxwellian incident electron spectrum is assumed.
The predicted rates for OII exceed the observed value by a factor of 4. It is
suggested that the ionization cross section may be over-estimated.
