OH-EMISSION AND GRAVITY-WAVES (INCLUDING A BREAKING WAVE) IN ALL-SKY IMAGERY FROM BEAR LAKE, UT

A new type of all-sky imager, using a high resolution, bare CCD, was o perated at Utah State University Observatory at Bear Lake Utah during fall-winter, 1991-2 on clear nights. The purpose was to image OH airgl ow in the 7500-9000 Angstrom spectral region for correlative measureme nts with UARS satellite instrumentation. Examination of some 20 nights of data, some OH wave activity (interpreted as gravity wave phenomena ) has been observed an all images and the spatial extent of the waves typically covered the entire viewing field (including overhead). Image s are presented including examples of multiple wave sources and a (one time observed) complex breaking wave. The unique chaotic structure, w hich evolved over an hour, developed a distorted phase front followed by a very short wavelength 'rippled' structure.