A SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF THE AURORA OF 27 NOVEMBER 1959 AT COLLEGE, ALASKA

• Main Author: DEEHR,CHARLES S.
• Other Authors: ALASKA UNIV COLLEGE GEOPHYSICAL INST
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1961
• Subjects: *AURORAE; *SPECTROGRAPHY; INTENSITY; LIGHT; NIGHT SKY; SPECTROPHOTOMETERS; TABLES(DATA); Barrow; Point Barrow; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0259659; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0259659

Observations are described which represent the first extensive quantitative data on a relatively rare auroral phenomenon, a high latitude red arc. While normal auroras generally occur at about 100 km above the earth's surface, the red arc occurred at about 350 km. Detailed study of this arc may allow certain deductions to be made on the state of the atmosphere at a height level which is very difficult to study from the ground by other techniques. On November 27, 1959 at 1642 AST, the all-sky camera at Point Barrow, Alaska, recorded a faint auroral arc at 30 deg zenith distance to the geomagnetic north. At College, Alaska, a photometer which had just completed measurements of the enhancement of the sodium D lines in the twilight, detected the arc during an alumcantar sweep (in 6300) at about 1645. The absolute intensities of 6300, 5577, and 5893 obtained photometrically are given for the period during which the red arc was visible. Spectrograms and all-sky camera pictures of the red arc are discussed and a diagram of the associated disturbance magnetic field effects is given. (Author)