An investigation of the solar zenith angle variation of D-region ionization
Model calculations are carried out with a view to interpreting the solar zenith angle variation of D-region ionization. A model is developed for the neutral chemistry including the transport terms relating to molecular and eddy diffusion. The diurnal behavior is described of the minor neutral constituents formed in an oxygen--hydrogen--nitrogen atmosphere, in the height interval between 30 and 120 km. Computations carried out for two cases of the eddy diffusion coefficients models indicate that the constituents which are important for the D-region positive-ion chemistry do not show a significant variation with zenith angle for values up to 75 deg over the D-region heights. In the ion chemistry model, ion-pair production rates are calculated for solar x-rays between 1 A and 100 A, euv radiations from 100 A up to the Lyman-alpha line, precipitating electrons, and galactic cosmic rays. The solar zenith angle variation of the positive-ion composition, negative-ion composition, and the electron densities are described up to 75 deg zenith angle, in the height interval between 60 and 100 km. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- NGR-14-005-181; NSF GA-36911X
- OSTI ID:
- 7326161
- Report Number(s):
- N-75-28597; NASA-CR-143217; TRN: 77-002753
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
D REGION
IONIZATION
ANIONS
ATOMS
CATIONS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COSMIC RADIATION
DAILY VARIATIONS
DIFFUSION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ION PAIRS
PAIR PRODUCTION
SOLAR RADIATION
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IONOSPHERE
IONS
LEPTONS
RADIATIONS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VARIATIONS
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena