Unusual sodium nightglow behaviour and possible association with solar flares

During many nights in October and November 1970 unusual enhancements in sodium nightglow intensity were observed near Belfast. These are discussed in relation to other atmospheric parameters. It is suggested (after Kokin et al., 1971) that instabilities in the atmosphere triggered by a series of solar flares may be the cause, particularly as during this period temperatures in the stratosphere were found to be unstable.