PARTICLE HEATING EFFECTS IN THE UPPER F REGION.
Abstract
Night time electron temperatures in the upper atmosphere obtained from the satellite Ariel I indicate an energy input to the ionosphere that is corpuscular in orgin. Willmore (1964) infers an energy flux of 40 ergs per sq-cm by electron volts. But estimates of energy flux based on observations on the intensity of the spectral bands of nitrogen, and neglecting all effects due to the magnetic field, suggest an energy flux two to three orders of magnitude smaller. A Fokker-Planck type diffusion equation is used to investigate the steady state flux densities built up in the upper atmosphere by a constant source of electrons subject to scattering and energy degradation processes. It is found that, when magnetic field effects are allowed for, it is possible to reconcile the energy flux inferred from the ionospheric heating effects with the much smaller flux suggested by optical emission. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0623598
Entities
People
- K. V. S. K. Nathan
Organizations
- University College London