Aurora and Airglow in the Solar System Workshop
Marina Galand, Boston University, mgaland@bu.edu
Michael Mendillo, Boston University, mendillo@bu.edu
Skaggs 2A-305, 4:00-6:00 PM
Monday, June 26, 2000
THEME
Aurora and airglow are optical emissions induced, directly or indirectly,
by electron and ion precipitation and by photochemical processes, respectively.
They are signatures of the atmospheric constituents and of the energetics
that excite them. As a result, the analysis of airglow and aurora allow us to
infer information on atmospheric composition, energy input to the atmosphere,
and magnetospheric source regions. Validation of models and a better
theoretical understanding of aurora and airglow on Earth have been achieved
through numerous in-situ and remote sensing observations and via laboratory
experiments.
Airglow and auroral emissions also have been observed on other planets and
moons in the solar system. The expertise acquired in terrestrial aeronomy
can contribute significantly to studies of atmospheric emissions on other
worlds. At the same time, Earth's aeronomy can benefit from the diversity
encountered in probing similar processes throughout the solar system.
This workshop gives us an opportunity to see the context of terrestrial
optical issues from the view of comparative studies.
Schedule:
(1) 4:00- 4:10: Introduction --- Michael Mendillo
(2) 4:10- 4:25: Airglow: Theory, Modeling, Open Issues --- Stan Solomon
(University of Colorado)
+5 min: Discussion.
(3) 4:30- 4:45: Airglow Observations and Their Scientific Yield: Earth
and Venus --- Tom Slanger (SRI)
+5 min: Discussion.
(4) 4:50- 5:05: Aurora Produced by Electrons: Earth and Elsewhere ---
Dirk Lummerzheim (University of Alaska)
+5 min: Discussion.
(5) 5:10- 5:25: Aurora Produced by Protons: Earth and Elsewhere ---
Marina Galand (Boston University)
+5 min: Discussion.
(6) 5:30- 5:45: Can Aurora and Airglow Be Used to Find Life on
Extra-Solar-System Planets? --- Harald Frey (UC Berkeley)
(7) 5:45- 6:00: General Discussion.
Back to CEDAR Agenda 2000