At high-latitude regions, energetic oxygen atoms are produced by a nonthermal mechanism associated with the precipitated energetic atomic oxygen ions disturbed periods. The upward moving non-thermal atoms can redistribute themselves at higher altitudes. For the storm of December 17, 1971, assuming the energetic O+ ions are uniformly precipitated between 50 ¿ and 70 ¿ magnetic latitudes, the nonthermal oxygen atoms become dominant over the ambient at about 70 km on the dayside and at about 600 km on the nightside at 60 ¿ magnetic latitude. Globally, a high number density atomic oxygen corona appears between 50 ¿ and 70 ¿ magnetic latitudes above the exobase, and the maximum is located at a few degrees poleward from the center of the band (i.e., 63 ¿ magnetic latitude).