We have reexamined rocket measurements of OI 989-, 1304-, 1356-Å and N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield band emissions in the mid-latitude dayglow reported by Gentieu et al. (1979) and Eastes et al. (1985). MSIS-83 atomic oxygen densities, the 1304- and 1356-Å excitation cross sections of Zipf and Erdman (1985), and Solar Mesosphere Explorer solar 1304-Å irradiance measurements are consistent with the observed OI and N2 emission intensities. Atmosphere Explorer E measurements of the solar EUV irradiance near solar maximum are consistent with the 1980 rocket airglow data (F10.7=213). However, the solar EUV irradiance required to explain the 1978 airglow data (F10.7=106) is a factor of 1.5 larger than indicated by AE-E. Enhancement of the 1304-Å excitation cross section due to radiative entrapment of cascade-feeding photons is much less than the factor of 2 predicted by the cascade model of Julienne and Davis (1976). The 3s´3D° direct excitation cross section of Vaughan and Doering (1987) is consistent with the 989-Å airglow data and leads to an inferred total branching ratio of 1-2 × 10-4 for transitions other than 989 Å from 3s´3D°, in agreement with the value for the 1173-Å branch measured in laboratory experiments.
For an analysis of the rocket 834-Å data, see:
The conclusions regarding the solar minimum EUV flux
in the 1988 paper have been superseded by the 1994 work.
Hinteregger wasn't so bad, after all!
See also:
