We describe the Fabry—Perot interfero-meter designed to study Earth’s upper atmosphere. We propose a modification of the existing data processing method for determining the Doppler shift and Doppler widening and also for separating the observed line intensity and the background intensity. The temperature and wind velocity derived from these parameters are compared with physical characteristics obtained from modeling (NRLMSISE-00, HWM14). We demonstrate that the temperature is determined from the oxygen 630 nm line irrespective of the hydroxyl signal existing in interference patterns. We show that the interferometer can obtain temperature from the oxygen 557.7 nm line in case of additional calibration of the device. The ob-served wind velocity mainly agrees with model data. Night variations in the red and green oxygen lines quite well coincide with those in intensities obtained by de-vices installed nearby the interferometer.

We study the spatiotemporal dynamics of mid-latitude aurora from observations in the south of Eastern Siberia during St. Patrick’s severe geomagnetic storm on March 17, 2015. We perform a morphological analysis of characteristics of the observed auroras. A preliminary conclusion is drawn that the analyzed event is the result of the manifestation of mid-latitude auroras of two types (type “d” and SAR arc) and ordinary aurora observed at the northern horizon. The maximum intensity of the dominant emission [OI] at 630.0 nm (~14 kR) allows this mid-latitude aurora to be attributed to the extreme auroras occurring in mid-latitudes, which is second only to the November 20, 2003 superstorm (~19 kR).

Studies of the upper atmosphere have to be performed using optical photometric and spectrometric means. Modern devices allow precise photometry of the glow of the night atmosphere — airglow — with high temporal spatial and spectral resolution. As a result, the obtained airglow parameters make it possible to determine the physicochemical properties of the upper atmosphere and observe their variation under the influence of various factors. The National Heliogeophysical Complex, which is being created in Eastern Siberia, is therefore to include a certain set of modern optical instruments. The paper presents the main phenomena that will be investigated by the optical instruments of the complex, provides information on their composition and scientific goals, presents the results of preliminary studies performed using a prototype of the instruments. As a result of the studies, the presence of a significant (about 10 m/sec) vertical wind at various altitudes (100 and 250 km) was established, the importance of taking into account the vertical wind to study the vertical dynamics of the charged component was demonstrated. The long-term dynamics of the vertical wind at an altitude of about 100 km has a pronounced seasonal variations and the absence of diurnal variations, whereas the dynamics of the vertical wind at an altitude of 250 km has a pronounced diurnal variations, which is mostly clearly defined in winter. This suggests the presumed presence of vertical circulation cells at various altitude levels. The possibilities of optical stereoscopy and differential image analysis methods are demonstrated, as applied to the study of fast luminous formations and conducting active ground and space experiments to modify Earth's ionosphere. We report the results of the determination of a three-dimensional picture of a long-lived meteor track with the use of two wide-angle cameras. We propose an algorithm that allows us to get a stereo image of events occurring in the upper atmosphere, recorded simultaneously from different observation points. The joint work of the tools of this complex and the development of cooperation with third-party organizations are shown to be a good enough direction for further study of the vertical dynamics of Earth’s upper atmosphere and space weather phenomena.

Atomic oxygen [OI] 557.7-nm atmospheric emission (airglow altitudes of 85–115 km) during earthquakes (EQ) with a magnitude of M ≥ 5, occurred in the Baikal rift zone in 2014–2016, is studied. Variations in this emission are analyzed; higher values of mean nighttime intensities of this emission on several days before an EQ in comparison with subsequent days are revealed. A possible explanation of these variations during EQs is given.

The paper presents observations of mid-latitude aurora (MA) in the south of Eastern Siberia in solar cycles 23–24. Spectral composition and dominant emissions of MA, daily distribution of MA detection probability, dependence on the level of geomagnetic activity, and classification according to types of aurora are discussed. A close relationship is shown between the intensity of dominant emission at 630.0 nm and the Dst index during magnetic storms (MSs). It is pointed out that the most intense MA are recorded during MS main phases. The MA detected on November 20, 2003 can enlarge the list of great aurora. For the severe MSs (Dstmin< –200 nT) of March 24, 1991, April 6, 2000, October 30 and November 20, 2003, March 17, 2015, the observed dynamics of 557.7 and 630.0 nm auroral emissions is presented. Mechanisms of emission excitation during geomagnetic storms and a possible connection with magnetospheric structures are discussed.