MEASUREMENTS OF THE DENSITY OF FREE ELECTRONS IN THE OUTER IONOSPHERE,
Abstract
Three profiles of the density of free electrons in the ionosphere were measured in conjunction with test flights of the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile. Data extend to an altitude of 815 km for the flight of August 2, 1958, to 960 km for the flight of August 28, 1958, and to 1060 km for that of February 4, 1959. Measurements were made using a modification of Berning's method. Below the level of maximum ionization h sub m the agreement with approximate true-height reductions of concurrent terrestrial sounder data is good. Above h sub m the results show general agreement with previously known time-averaged distributions derived from satellite observations. The August 2 flight occurred during a period of above normal solar and magnetic activity. The somewhat large value, 4 x 100000 per cc, observed for the electron density at 800 km, compared to 1 x 1000000 at 365 km (h sub m), may be a result of that activity. It is noted that in the exosphere the altitude dependence of the gradient of the electron density is approximately the same for all the three profiles, whereas at a particular altitude the density itself varied by almost an order of magnitude among the profiles. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1960
- Accession Number
- AD0609404
Entities
People
- Donald J. Farmer
- W. A. Robinson
Organizations
- TRW Inc.