UV Radiation from the night-time atmosphere seen from the "universitetsky-tatiana" satellite

Abstract

Detectors on the "Universitetsky-Tatiana" satellite measured a smoothly varying intensity of UV radiation from the night-time atmosphere in the nadir direction and the intensity of the energetic electron flux at the orbit. At high latitudes the UV intensity in the auroral oval is interpreted as being due to electrons penetrating into the atmosphere. At middle latitudes the UV intensity is an order of magnitude less and more data are needed to reveal the origin of this radiation. Millisecond flashes of UV radiation were observed. The flashes' energy, temporal profile and global distribution are similar to these parameters for Transient Luminous Events (TLEs). These studies will be continued aboard the next satellite "Tatiana-2". © 2009 American Institute of Physics.