A FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF AIRGLOW FLUCTUATIONS INDUCED BY GRAVITY-WAVES

Airglow fluctuations induced by gravity waves and observed from the gr ound are free from any direct dependence on the scale heights (as dist inct from the height profiles) of all minor species involved in the ph otochemistry of the emission process, under a wide range of circumstan ces that have been assumed in all theoretical developments to date. Th e truth of this fundamental theorem is established here, and the limit s on it are set out. Contrary conclusions that have been reached by ot hers in earlier publications are shown to be consequences of fallaciou s mathematical procedures. The theorem is of value not only to an unde rstanding of the fundamentals of the subject, but also as a check on n umerical models. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.