Simultaneous retrievals of nighttime O(3P) and total OH densities from satellite observations of Meinel band emissions

We present a novel retrieval approach to simultaneously and self-consistently derive both [O(P-3)] and total [OH] in the nighttime mesosphere and lower thermosphere which operates with the Meinel band volume emission rates and their ratios.

Its application to the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) and Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) observations shows a good agreement of the retrieved [O(P-3)] taking into account the measurement uncertainties and variation of model inputs used. However, retrieved [OH] show a large discrepancy, mainly above 90 km. SCIAMACHY [OH] is generally in good agreement with WACCM [OH] after accounting for uncertainties, while SABER OH is larger than WACCM [OH] by up to a factor of 2.