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Presentation
Geocoronal Balmer-Alpha Emission Observed by the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper During the Southern Sky Survey
American Geophysical Union Annual Fall Meeting (2015)
  • E. J. Mierkiewicz, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • L. M. Haffner, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • S. M. Nossal, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • M. L. Wilson, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach
  • C. W. Freer, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach
  • B. Babler, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • D. Gardner, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • F. L. Roesler, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Abstract
After a successful eleven-year run at Kitt Peak Observatory (AZ), the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) was moved to Cerro Tololo (Chile) in 2009 to complete the southern portion of the Galactic Balmer-alpha survey. Although WHAM is primarily used for making observations of the interstellar medium, the terrestrial emission present in each of WHAMs astronomical spectra offers a rich resource for studying the Earths atmosphere. Here we present an overview of the terrestrial Balmer-alpha emission collected during WHAMs first five years of operation under southern skies. Seasonal trends and comparisons with northern hemisphere observations will be discussed. WHAM can detect Balmer-alpha emission as faint as 0.05R in a 30s exposure, covering a 200 km/s (4.4 Angstrom) spectral region with 12 km/s spectral resolution from a 1 degree beam on the sky. With this sensitivity, hundreds of spectra can be collected in a single clear night. Although not capable of fully resolving the geocoronal Balmer-alpha line profile itself, WHAMs sensitivity makes it an exceptional instrument for geocoronal Balmer-alpha intensity observations.
Keywords
  • Middle atmosphere,
  • thermosphere,
  • topside ionosphere,
  • atmospheres
Publication Date
2015
Location
San Francisco, CA
Comments
(Poster) Abstract SA32A-05
Citation Information
E. J. Mierkiewicz, L. M. Haffner, S. M. Nossal, M. L. Wilson, et al.. "Geocoronal Balmer-Alpha Emission Observed by the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper During the Southern Sky Survey" American Geophysical Union Annual Fall Meeting (2015)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/edwin_mierkiewicz/37/