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Pulsating aurora induced by upper atmospheric barium releasesThe paper reports the apparent generation of pulsating aurora by explosive releases of barium vapor near 250 km altitude. This effect occurred only when the explosions were in the path of precipitating electrons associated with the visible aurora. Each explosive charge was a standard 1.5 kg thermite mixture of Ba and CuO with an excess of Ba metal which was vaporized and dispersed by the thermite explosion. Traces of Sr, Na, and Li were added to some of the charges, and monitoring was achieved by ground-based spectrophotometric observations. On March 28, 1976, an increase in emission at 5577 A and at 4278 A was observed in association with the first two bursts, these emissions pulsating with roughly a 10 sec period for approximately 60 to 100 sec after the burst.
Document ID
19770050909
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Deehr, C.
(Alaska Univ. Fairbanks, AK, United States)
Romick, G.
(Alaska, University Fairbanks, Alaska, United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
May 12, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 267
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
77A33761
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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