Dynamical-chemical model of fluctuations in the OH airglow driven by migrating tides, stationary tides, and planetary waves

The theory of tidally driven fluctuations in the OH airglow, generalized to account for emission from an extended layer, is applied to airglow fluctuations due to both migrating and zonally symmetric tides and free traveling planetary (Rossby) waves. Krassovsky's ratio ηE (the ratio of normalized airglow fluctuation intensity to normalized temperature fluctuation) is evaluated for a suite of tidal modes and for the traveling planetary waves. Values of ηE are distinct enough to allow for identification of a variety of tidal modes and planetary waves in airglow observations. The theory predicts that airglow observations at very high latitude should contain prominent signatures of zonally symmetric tidal modes with periods of 6,8, and 12 hours. 32 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs