Night Airglow Observations at the Magnetic Equator

Abstract

Night airglow observations at the wavelength 6860 Ǻ [OH (7-2)], 6300 Ǻ (OI), 5893 Ǻ (N_a). 5577 Ǻ (OI) and 5200 Ǻ (NI) were made at Cape Comorin (8^oN, 77'5^OE geogr., 0^.6°S dip),' India, very near the magnetic equator during Dee, 1971-Feb. 1972 with a self-calibrating photometer. Simultaneous observations were also made at Mt. Abu. (24^.6^oN. 72^.7°E. geogr; 34°N dip), India, at all the above wavelengths. At -Mt. Abu both 6300 and 5200 Ǻ line show a post twilight decay, with decreasing intensity tin midnight; while; at the magnetic equator the 6300 Ǻ line shows an increase in intensity till midnight with a broad maximum between 5577 Ǻ and OR emissions that the meteorological transport of atomic oxygen could be the cause of this behaviour of OH and 5577 Ǻ emissions.