Nighttime O(1D) distributions in the mesopause region derived from SABER data

Abstract

In this study, the new source of O(1D) in the mesopause region due to the process OH. 5/CO.3P/! OH.0 0 5/CO.1D) is applied to SABER data to estimate the nighttime O(1D) distributions for the years 2003 2005. It is found that O(1D) evolutions in these years are very similar to each other. Depending on the month, monthly averaged O(1D) distributions show two to four maxima with values up to 340 cm3 which are localized in height (at 92 96 km) and latitude (at 20 40 and 60 80 S, N). Annually averaged distributions in 2003 2005 have one weak maximum at 93 km and 65 S with values of 150 160 cm3 and three pronounced maxima (with values up to 230 cm3/ at 95 km and 35 S, at 94 km and 40 N and at 93 km and 65 75 N, correspondingly. In general, there is slightly more O(1D) in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. The obtained results are a useful data set for subsequent estimation of nighttime O(1D) influence on the chemistry of the mesopause region.