ROCKET MEASUREMENTS OF F LAYER ELECTRON DENSITY AND THEIR INTERPRETATION
Abstract
Solution of the continuity equation for ionospheric electron density including the effects of ambipolar diffusion, near the peak of the F layer, indicate that the width of the peak is determined by the atmospheric scale height at night, but is less during photoequilibrium conditions during the day. This conclusion is borne out by rocket electron density measurements. Evidence is found supporting measurements of diurnal atmospheric heating deduced from satellite drag data, and a thermopause temperature is found of about 1180 K at night and 1490 K during the day. assuming the classical form for the ambipolar diffusion coefficient, a value of the loss coefficient Beta is found of about 0.0005/sec at 300 km height, which falls within the range measured by other methods. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0256942
Entities
People
- S.a. Bowhill
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University