Ion transition heights from topside electron density profiles

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Diurnal Variations, Electron Density Profiles, Ionospheric Electron Density, Satellite Observation, Upper Ionosphere, Alouette 1 Satellite, Atmospheric Models, Height, Ion Temperature, Ionized Gases, Ionograms, Ionospheric Composition, Transition Layers

Scientific paper

Theoretical topside ion and electron density profiles were calculated using different models for the composition, temperature, and movement of the neutral and ionized gases. It is shown that only the mean temperature, the vertical temperature gradient, and the O(+)/H(+) ion transition height have a significant effect on the profile shape. Diffusive equilibrium profiles including only these effects are in good agreement with observations. Theoretical curves are fitted to 60,000 electron density profiles from ionograms obtained by the satellite Alouette 1 at latitudes from 75 deg S to 85 deg N. Inside the plasmosphere the calculated height ranged from 500 km on winter nights to 850 km on summer days near the solar minimum. Diurnal variations in this value are primarily dependent on the amount of O(+) ions. On winter nights the average transition height is in agreement with the value for chemical equilibrium calculated using the Jaccia model (1971). Outside the plasmosphere the ion transition heights are generally 300-600 km above the height for chemical equilibrium, requiring a continual outflow of electrons within about 1-2% of the maximum diffusion-limited flux.

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