Articles | Volume 18, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5749-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5749-2025
Research article
 | 
23 Oct 2025
Research article |  | 23 Oct 2025

Feasibility of a space-borne terahertz heterodyne spectrometer for atomic oxygen and temperature in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

Peder Bagge Hansen, Martin Wienold, and Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers

Cited articles

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Short summary
In this numerical study, we assess the feasibility of a satellite-borne instrument for measuring the atomic oxygen concentration and temperature in the upper atmosphere by detecting its emission in the terahertz range. We simulate the measurement scenario considering technological feasibility and state-of-the-art atmosphere models. We find that both atomic oxygen and temperature could be accurately measured from an altitude of 100 km up to at least 200 km with such an instrument.
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