Data Reduction and Auroral Characterizations for ICECAP III. HAES Report Number 59

This report provides results of infrared radiometry of auroral particle-excited air from two ICECAP multi-instrumented rocket probes and a zenith-viewing aircraft; characterizations of the ionosphere for other simulation tests; an outline of ICECAP's 1976 program of coordinated NKC-135 aircraft and groundbased measurements; and a review of methods for assessing auroral energy inputs. Effective efficiencies for emission of what is interpreted as NO vibrational fundamental and overtone radiation are derived from several rocket probes and aircraft missions. These are consistent among themselves and within the expected precision and resolution of the measurements. The visible-fluorescent and NO-infrared radiances of relatively stable forms appears spatially and temporally correlated. Some indication of a prompt component of 4.25 + or - 0.05 micrometer auroral radiation is observed. The spectroscopic and Thomson-scatter radar methods for determining column ionization rates and altitude profiles are reviewed, with a comparison of meridian-plane data from ICECAP 75; it is found that the optical method is effective for aircraft investigations, and that scattering in the lower atmosphere strongly influences results of photometry from ground stations.