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Titel |
Measurement of atomic oxygen in the middle atmosphere using solid electrolyte sensors and catalytic probes |
VerfasserIn |
M. Eberhart, S. Löhle, A. Steinbeck, T. Binder, S. Fasoulas |
Medientyp |
Artikel
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Sprache |
Englisch
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ISSN |
1867-1381
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Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ; 8, no. 9 ; Nr. 8, no. 9 (2015-09-15), S.3701-3714 |
Datensatznummer |
250116574
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Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/amt-8-3701-2015.pdf |
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Zusammenfassung |
The middle- and upper-atmospheric energy budget is largely dominated by
reactions involving atomic oxygen (O). Modeling of these processes
requires detailed knowledge about the distribution of this oxygen species.
Understanding the mutual contributions of atomic oxygen and wave motions to
the atmospheric heating is the main goal of the rocket project WADIS (WAve
propagation and DISsipation in the middle atmosphere). It includes, amongst
others, our instruments for the measurement of atomic oxygen that have both
been developed with the aim of resolving density variations on small vertical
scales along the trajectory. In this paper the instrument based on catalytic
effects (PHLUX: Pyrometric Heat Flux
Experiment) is introduced briefly. The experiment employing solid
electrolyte sensors (FIPEX: Flux φ(Phi) Probe Experiment) is presented in detail. These sensors were
laboratory calibrated using a microwave plasma as a source of atomic oxygen
in combination with mass spectrometer reference measurements. The
spectrometer was in turn calibrated for O with a method based on
methane. In order to get insight into the horizontal variability, the rocket
payload had instrument decks at both ends. Each housed several sensor heads
measuring during both the up- and downleg of the trajectory. The WADIS
project comprises two rocket flights during different geophysical conditions.
Results from WADIS-1 are presented, which was successfully launched in June
2013 from the Andøya Space Center, Norway. FIPEX data were sampled at
100 Hz and yield atomic oxygen density profiles with a vertical
resolution better than 9 m. This allows density variations to be
studied on very small spatial scales. Numerical simulations of the flow field around
the rocket were done at several points of the trajectory to assess the
influence of aerodynamic effects on the measurement results. Density profiles
peak at 3 × 1010 cm−3 at
altitudes of 93.6 and 96 km for the up- and downleg,
respectively. |
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