R. Werner

Spectrometric measurements of NO2 slant column amount at Stara Zagora Station (42°N, 25°E)

Abstract Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) is a representative of a family of chemically very active radicals NO x =NO+NO 2 . These radicals catalytically destroy the ozone and play a significant role in other ozone-destroying catalytic cycles. In the polar night NO 2 can deactivate ClO by a termolecular reaction to form the reservoir gas Cl0NO 2 . In this way NO 2 restricts the ozone destruction in the polar vortex. NO 2 also takes part in heterogeneous reactions, which occur on the surface of polar stratospheric clouds. For the trace gases study and particularly for the nitrogen dioxide a spectrometric instrument GASCOD-BG was installed at the Solar Terrestrial Influences Laboratory - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Stara Zagora Department in August 1999. The instrument was developed at the Institute of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the Council of National Research, Italy, Bologna. The results of the NO 2 observation for more than two years are presented in this paper.

The spectrum of comet halley obtained by VEGA-2

During the pass of VEGA-2 near Comet Halley spectra in the 2750 ÷ 7000 A region are registered by the three channel spectrometer on board. Spectra from different parts of the comet coma are obtained by scanning. The spectra are deconvoluted by means of regularizational algorithm. Bands of the following cometary atmospheric species are identified: OH, NH, CN, Ca, CH, C3, NH2, H2O+, CO+, CO2+.

Basic scientific results from the investigation of the halley comet coma glow by data of the three-channel spectrometer on board the venus-halley interplanetary station

Abstract More than 3000 unique spectra of the Halley comet in the near UV and visible region on 9, 10, and 11 March 1986 are registered and processed. Two-dimensional monochromatic images are constructed for different cometary species and the continuum. An original method for the dust continuum glow and gas emissions separation is worked out. Images of the emission spatial distribution of the cometary atmosphere are obtained. The strongest are the emissions of OH (considered here in details), C 2 , CN, C 3 and CH. The neutral gas production rate and quantities describing their spatial distribution are determined by the measured intensities (Q OH ∼ 8×1029 mol/s). Results show strong anisotropic distribution of the dust and gas emission with the decreasing of the VEGA-comet distance. The hypothesis of jets structures origin near the nucleus is affirmed for the radicals and the dust continuum. A tomographic reconstruction of the dust continuum distribution around the nucleus is made. A model of isotropic and anisotropic dust ejection can approximately describe it. Two strong jets and dust shells are obtained.