Fe/sup +/ ions in the high latitude F-region

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL005i009p00791· OSTI ID:6581369

Grebowsky, J M; Brinton, H C

Ion mass spectrometer measurements on Atmosphere Explorer C orbits from December 1974 to December 1976 were surveyed poleward of +- 30/sup 0/..lambda.. for instances in which the Fe/sup +/ number density exceeded the spectrometer threshold sensitivity of 30/cm/sup 3/. The occurrences of Fe/sup +/ within the altitude range covered by the orbit, 220 to 320 km, revealed a distinct pattern apparently associated with regions of upward plasma transport. At night a band of such events occurred between 50/sup 0/ and 60/sup 0/..lambda.. which typically corresponded to the location of the main ionospheric trough. In this region large upward ion drifts due to the drag of an equatorward blowing neutral wind are expected. The Fe/sup +/ band extends past 06MLT to approx.11MLT during the summer, but is not observed in the afternoon. The dayside distributions possibly result from the upward drifts of Fregion ions detected by backscatter techniques after dawn during summer. At higher latitudes patches of Fe/sup +/ were detected in regions where strong plasma drifts often prevail and hence where poleward E x B motions and atmospheric expansion through Joule heating can lift the ions upwards.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Planetary Atmospheres, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
• OSTI ID: 6581369
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 5:9; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATOMIC IONS
BACKSCATTERING
CHARGED PARTICLES
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EXPLORER SATELLITES
F REGION
ION DRIFT
IONIC COMPOSITION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
IRON IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SATELLITES
SCATTERING