Dynamics of H alpha spicules according to spectral observations at various heights of the solar chromosphere

Almost simultaneous height sequences of 69 spicules in the H alpha line were studied. The spectra are obtained at six heights during 6 sec on the east side of the solar disk with the 53-cm Lyot coronagraph of the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory. Radial velocities (V sub(R) ), total intensities or equivalent widths (W), and full widths at half maximum of intensity (FWHM) at all heights are determined ( similar to 300 profiles of the H alpha line). It is found that absolute values of radial velocities increase linearly with the height and that variation of the sign of the radial velocity along single spicules was never observed. These results, combined with the findings on the spicules, radial velocities, and shifts obtained earlier (Kulidzanishvili and Nikolsky, 1978; Nikolsky and Platova, 1970), led to the conclusion that the 5-min tangential oscillations of spicules involve the entire spicule at once. The intensity height scales for single spicules and for the chromosphere in toto are determined (2.5 x 10 super(3) km and 1.9 x 10 super(3) km, respectively). The dependence curve of the H alpha line half-widths, Delta lambda , upon the height, h, is drawn. The H alpha line half-width for those spicule groups that are traced at all heights (10 spicules) decreases with the height; for the majority ( similar to 60 spicules), it remains essentially constant. Nonthermal turbulent velocities (V sub(t) ) in H alpha spicules are defined. A mean value of V sub(t) at T = 6000 degrees appeared to be 20-30 km sec super(-) super(1) . The hydrogen concentration in the spicules at 5000 km is 6 x 10 super(1) super(1) cm super(-) super(3) .