Atomic hydrogen concentrations in the mesosphere and the hydroxyl emissions

It is generally accepted that the hydroxyl emissions observed in the airglow spectrum originate from the hydrogen-ozone reaction. Hence it is logical to use the observed emission intensities to infer the atomic hydrogen concentrations in the mesosphere. The volume reaction rate between O3 and hydrogen can be calculated from the measured intensity of a particular band if the vibrational spectrum of the complete Meinel system is known. This spectrum has recently been calculated by Evans and Llewellyn [1972];the same calculation has also indicated that 4.8 photons are produced from each reaction between H and O3.