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Evidence for Solar Cycle Influence on the Infrared Energy Budget and Radiative Cooling of the ThermosphereWe present direct observational evidence for solar cycle influence on the infrared energy budget and radiative cooling of the thermosphere. By analyzing nearly five years of data from the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument, we show that the annual mean infrared power radiated by the nitric oxide (NO) molecule at 5.3 m has decreased by a factor of 2.9. This decrease is correlated (r = 0.96) with the decrease in the annual mean F10.7 solar index. Despite the sharp decrease in radiated power (which is equivalent to a decrease in the vertical integrated radiative cooling rate), the variability of the power as given in the standard deviation of the annual means remains approximately constant. A simple relationship is shown to exist between the infrared power radiated by NO and the F10.7 index, thus providing a fundamental relationship between solar activity and the thermospheric cooling rate for use in thermospheric models. The change in NO radiated power is also consistent with changes in absorbed ultraviolet radiation over the same time period.
Document ID
20090017773
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.1029/2006JA012194
Authors
Mlynczak, Martin G. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Martin-Torres, F. Javier (AS and M, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Marshall, B. Thomas (G and A Technical Software, Inc. Newport News, VA, United States)
Thompson, R. Earl (G and A Technical Software, Inc. Newport News, VA, United States)
Williams, Joshua (Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Turpin, TImothy (Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Kratz, D. P. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Russell, James M. (Hampton Univ. VA, United States)
Woods, Tom (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Gordley, Larry L. (G and A Technical Software, Inc. Newport News, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2007
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
LF99-4537
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 370544.04012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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