Ion temperature variations in the daytime high-latitude F region

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA087iA07p05169· OSTI ID:6697197

Schunk, R W; Sojka, J J

We improved our high-latitude ionospheric model by including thermal conduction and diffusion-thermal heat flow terms in the ion energy equation so that we could study the ion temperature variations in the daytime high-latitude F layer in a region poleward of the auroral oval for steady state conditions at local noon. From our study we found that (1) The variation of T/sub i/ with solar cycle, season, and geomagnetic activity closely follows the T/sub n/ variation. The general trend is for higher temperatures in summer than in winter, at solar maximum than at solar minimum, and for active magnetic conditions than for quite conditions. However, T/sub i/ changes by less than 600 /sup 0/K over the range of conditions considered; (2) Meridional electric fields act to heat the ion gas and electric fields greater than 40 mV m/sup -1/ can cause a larger T/sub i/ change than that due to solar cycle, seasonal, and geomagnetic activity variations; (3) In the presence of meridional electric fields, there is an upward flow of heat from the lower ionosphere that acts to raise T/sub i/ at high altitudes; (4) Zonal electric fields affect T/sub i/ indirectly through changes in the electron density, but the effect can be larger than that associated with solar cycle, seasonal, and geomagnetic activity variations; (5) Diffusion-thermal heat flow affects T/sub i/ by at most 500 /sup 0/K; (6) Typically, T/sub e/ has a much smaller effect on T/sub i/ at high latitudes than at middle and low latitudes.

• Research Organization: Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences, Utah State Univeristy, Logan, Utah, 84322
• OSTI ID: 6697197
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 87:A7; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAL OVAL
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
F REGION
HEAT FLOW
ION TEMPERATURE
IONOSPHERE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
VARIATIONS