For the planned experiments of Korea Sounding Rocket-III (KSR-III), we have constructed a model of MUV dayglow in the mid-latitude. The model computes relative intensities of individual emission lines in the Vegard-Kaplan and 2PG band systems of N2 in the wavelength range of 2500-3500 Å. In addition to the emission lines, solar scattered continuum was computed by an extended LOWTRAN7 code, in which we have included solar scattering in altitudes higher than 100 km by using MSIS90 thermosphere model. Ratios among vibrational bands of VK and 2PG system, were computed from the observed MUV dayglow spectra of Cleary et al. (1995). The model provides MUV dayglow intensitiy profiles with a wavelength resolution of 3.13 Å as a function of altitude. The computed intensity profiles have been utilized in designing the KSR-III airglow photometers.

A baffle system for an airglow photometer, which will be on board the Korea Sounding Rocket-III(KSR-III), has been designed to suppress strong solar scattered lights from the atmosphere below the earth limb. Basic principles for designing a baffle system, such as determination of baffle dimensions, arrangement of vanes inside a baffle tube, and coating of surfaces, have been reviewed from the literature. By considering the constraints of the payload size of the KSR-III and the incident angle of solar light scattered from the earth limb, we first determined dimensions of a two-stage baffle tube for the airglow photometer. We then calculated positions and heights of vanes to prohibit diffusely reflected lights inside the baffle tube from entering into the photometer. In order to evaluate performance of the designed baffle system, we have developed a ray tracing program using a Monte Carlo method. The program computed attenuation factors of the baffle system on the order of 10 -6 for angles larger than 10°, which satisfies the requirements of the KSR-III airglow experiment. We have also measured the attenuation factors for an engineering model of the baffle system with a simple collimating beam apparatus, and confirmed the attenuation factors up to about 10 -4. Limitation of the apparatus does not allow to make more accurate measurements of the attenuation factors.

Previously, all-sky airglow images observed at Shigaraki (34.9° N, 136.1° E), Japan, during 2004 and 2005 were analyzed in relation to those observed at Mt. Bohyun (36.2° N, 128.9° E) for a comparison of their gravity wave characteristics (Kim et al. 2010). By applying the same selection criteria of waves and cloud coverages as in the case of Mt. Bohyun all-sky images, we derived apparent wavelengths, periods, phase velocities, and monthly occurrence rates of gravity waves at Shigaraki in this study. The distributions of wavelengths, periods, and speeds derived for Shigaraki were found to be roughly similar to those for Mt. Bohyun. However, the overall occurrence rates of gravity waves at Shigaraki were 36% and 34% for OI 557.7 nm and OH Meinel band airglow layers, respectively, which were significantly higher than those at Mt. Bohyun. The monthly occurrence rates did not show minima near equinox months, unlike those for Mt. Bohyun. Furthermore, the seasonal preferential directions that were clearly apparent for Mt. Bohyun were not seen in the wave propagation trends for Shigaraki. These differences between the two sites imply different origins of the gravity waves near the Korean peninsula and the Japanese islands. The gravity waves over the Japanese islands may originate from sources at various altitudes; therefore, wind filtering may not be effective in causing any seasonal preferential directions in the waves in the airglow layers. Our analysis of the Shigaraki data supports recent theoretical studies, according to which gravity waves can be generated from in situ sources, such as mesosphere wind shear or secondary wave formation, in the mesosphere.