Auroral ionosphere: Comparison of time-dependent model with composition measurements
A time-dependent model of the auroral ionosphere including the odd nitrogen species, NO, N(/sup 2/D), and N (/sup 4/S), is used for comparison with data from a coordinated rocket-satellite measurement of an auroral event. The chemical scheme and the adopted rate coefficients have been shown to be compatible with daytime mid-latitude ionospheric chemistry. The electron flux and neutral atmospheric parameters measured on the satellite are used to compute the appropriate ionization and dissociation rates. The calculated NO/sup +/, O/sub 2//sup +/, O/sup +/, Ne, and NO densities agree well with the rocket measurements. The calculated N/sub 2//sup +/ densities are larger than the measured densities by a factor of 3 at most altitudes. The calculations show that the nitric oxide content of the aurora (approx.1.2 x 10/sup 9/ NO molecules/cm/sup 3/ at 105 km) is below the saturation value.
- Research Organization:
- Space Physics Research Laboratory, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- OSTI ID:
- 5910342
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:A8; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DISSOCIATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
IONIC COMPOSITION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
KINETICS
MOLECULAR IONS
NEON
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OXYGEN IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RARE GASES
REACTION KINETICS