Airglow (All ftp)

What is Airglow? It has been described as a permanent aurora or the light other than the polar aurora, emitted by the upper atmosphere (C.T. Elvey, 1950). During daylight, the solar ultraviolet rays ionize oxygen, nitrogen, and other molecules in the upper atmosphere. These molecular fragments then recombine at night, emitting mostly in a faint green light. At solar minimum when solar activity is reduced, the airglow dims significantly. Airglow occurs in the lower thermosphere and upper mesosphere and can measure changes in the ionosphere and middle atmosphere. While it is usually too faint for the human eye to see, instrumentation, like photometers, can measure the night airglow. NGDC holds data taken during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) 1957-59 and the International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) 1964-65 for the hourly zenith intensities of ionized Oxygen OI 557.7 nm (green), Sodium Iodide NaI 589.0-9.6 nm, and ionized Oxygen OI 630.0 nm (red), plus some observations of hydroxyl (OH) and ionized Nitrogen N2+ 391.4 nm. These data can be compared with recent observations to determine global change effects. Airglow is extemely sensitive to global change.

The darkness of the night sky is affected by 1.) airglow, 2.) light scattered while passing through the atmosphere, 3.) sunshine reflected off dust particles orbiting between the sun and Jupiter (zodiacal light) and 4.) glimmering caused by swarms of faraway stars (Milky Way) -- see Sky Lights by Bob Berman, Discover Magazine, April 2005 issue.

• Access to IGY Jul 1957-Dec 1959 Databases (About 27 stations data)

• Access to IQSY 1964-1965 Databases (19 stations data)
  • Abastumani, Russia -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Abastumani, Russia -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Abastumani, Russia -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Abastumani, Russia -- 5893A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Abastumani, Russia -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Abastumani, Russia -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Abastumani, Russia -- 9000A OH hourly zenith intensities
  • Aso, Japan -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Aso, Japan -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Dodaira, Japan -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Dodaira, Japan -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Dodaira, Japan -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Dodaira, Japan -- 6700A OH hourly zenith intensities
  • Fritz Peak, Colorado USA -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Fritz Peak, Colorado USA -- 5893A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Fritz Peak, Colorado USA -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Gifu, Japan -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Gifu, Japan -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Haleakala, Hawaii, USA -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Haleakala, Hawaii, USA -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Haleakala, Hawaii, USA -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Haleakala, Hawaii, USA -- 5893A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Haleakala, Hawaii, USA -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Haleakala, Hawaii, USA -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Haute Provence, France -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Haute Provence, France -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Haute Provence, France -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Haute Provence, France -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Haute Provence, France -- 6700A OH hourly ratio of intensities
  • Kakioka, Japan -- 6700A OH hourly ratio of intensities
  • Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA -- 5893A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Loparskaya, Russia -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Loparskaya, Russia -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Makatea, Tuamotu A. -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Makatea, Tuamotu A. -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Makatea, Tuamotu A. -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Makatea, Tuamotu A. -- 6700A OH hourly ratio of intensities
  • Maruyama, Japan -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Maruyama, Japan -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Memambetsu, Japan -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Memambetsu, Japan -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Memambetsu, Japan -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Memambetsu, Japan -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Mount Abu, India -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Mount Abu, India -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Mount Abu, India -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Niigata, Japan -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Niigata, Japan -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Poona, India -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Poona, India -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Poona, India -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Poona, India -- 7750A OH hourly ratio of intensities
  • Poona, India -- 8860A OH hourly ratio of intensities
  • Sendai, Japan -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Sendai, Japan -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Sendai, Japan -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Tsumeb, S. Africa -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Tsumeb, S. Africa -- 5893A hourly zenith intensities
  • Tsumeb, S. Africa -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Tsumeb, S. Africa -- OH hourly ratio of intensities
  • Tsumeb, S. Africa -- 3914A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Vannovskaya, Russia -- 5577A hourly zenith intensities
  • Vannovskaya, Russia -- 5577A hourly ratio of intensities
  • Vannovskaya, Russia -- 6300A hourly zenith intensities
  • Vannovskaya, Russia -- 6300A hourly ratio of intensities