| Volumes and Issues Contents of Issue 1 |
www.atmos-chem-phys.net/3/225/2003/
© Author(s) 2003. This work is licensed
under a Creative Commons License.
The H Lyman-a actinic flux in the middle atmosphere
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe und Universität Karlsruhe, Germany
Abstract. The penetration of solar H Lyman-a radiation into the terrestrial middle atmosphere is studied in detail. The Lyman-a actinic flux is calculated with a Monte Carlo approach including multiple resonance scattering of Lyman-a photons within the terrestrial atmosphere and a temperature dependent absorption cross section of molecular oxygen. The dependence of the actinic flux on the temperature profile is significant for O2 column densities greater than about 1024 m-2. For column densities greater than about 5 · 1024 m-2 resonance scattering becomes important at solar zenith angles > 60°. The O(1D) quantum yield of the O2 dissociation by Lyman-a photons is found to decrease from 0.58 in the lower thermosphere to 0.48 in the lower mesosphere. Parameterisations for Lyman-a actinic flux, mean O2 absorption cross section and O(1D) quantum yield including temperature dependence and resonance scattering are given valid up to a O2 column density of about 1025 m-2.
Final Revised Paper (PDF, 258 KB) Discussion Paper (ACPD)
Citation: Reddmann, T. and Uhl, R.: The H Lyman-a actinic flux in the middle atmosphere, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 3, 225-231, 2003. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
