WAVE-MODIFIED MEAN EXOTHERMIC HEATING IN THE MESOPAUSE REGION

We employ a model of wave-driven OH nightglow fluctuations to calculat e the effects of gravity waves on the chemical exothermic heating due to reactions involving odd hydrogen and odd oxygen species in the meso pause region. Using a model based on time means and deviations from th ose means, it is demonstrated that gravity waves contribute to the tim e-average exothermic heating. The effect can be significant because th e fractional fluctuations in minor species density can be substantiall y greater than the fractional fluctuation of the major gas density. Ou r calculations reveal that the waves mitigate the exothermic heating, demonstrating their potential importance in the heat budget of the mes opause region.