Decomposition of CO2 molecules due to auroral X-rays

• Main Author: Sekihara, K.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1985
• Subjects: 46; North Pole; Pratt; Falconer
• Online Access: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19860018348

It has been reported by SEKIHARA (1981), that the circumpolar measurement from a commercial airliner reported by PRATT and FALCONER (1979) was subjected to a strong influence of a geomagnetic storm, specifically at the beginning stage through the North Pole. The main point of interest was the increase of CO concentration by the order of 10 ppb that took place simultaneously with a temperature decrease of several degrees, which was regarded as a result of enhanced cooling to space due to CO2 decomposition. Later inspection of the original magnetogram of eleven auroral zone stations revealed that the observation started 13 hours after the main phase of a geomagnetic storm, which lasted for 22 hours. A quantitative estimation is made of CO2 decomposition due to auroral X-rays that should take place during the degradation of photoelectrons injected into the lower stratospheres.