Models of Ionospheric Release Experiments. Part 1: SF sub 6 Releases; Part 2: CO sub 2 Releases
Abstract
High-altitude chemical releases are investigated with the use of several numerical models of chemistry, dynamics, and electrodynamics. The specific releases investigated were SF sub 6 and CO sub 2 in the F-region of the ionosphere. The chemistry for reproducing observations from the CRRES-at- Kwajalein SF sub 6 release must include oxidation reactions of ions and neutrals. The dominant negative ion observed, F(-), was modeled well with SF(-) sub 5 + O yields SOF sub 4 + F(-) as the dominant production mechanism. SOF(-) sub 3 is potentially an important negative ion resulting from electron attachment of SOF sub 4. The electrodynamic model of the SF sub 6 release did not produce a plasma depletion plume as was hoped. The electrodynamic perturbation is small and short-lived. It will not produce large-scale plume structure associated with equatorial spread-F. The modeling of CO sub 2 releases produced too much 6300A airglow when compared with REDAIR experimental results. The conflict between simulation and experiment requires reduction of CO sub 2 + O(+) reaction rates or inclusion of a CO sub 2 removal mechanism such as freezing. Modeling also shows that the two CO sub 2 releases of the REDAIR experiment may have spatially mixed airglow signatures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA257764
Entities
People
- J. V. Eccles
- Russell A. Armstrong