Lower ionosphere ion production density and composition in an auroral absorption event
Abstract
A payload instrumented to measure energetic particle precipitation, ionization density, and composition of ions as well as neutral constituents in the D and lower E regions was launched on February 21, 1976 from Esrange into an auroral absorption event. Energetic particles were measured in the spectral range 40 to 800 keV. The reported ion composition measurements were made during rocket ascent at an altitude of from 60 to 104.6 km. Water cluster ions dominated below, 71 km above which height NO was the most abundant ionic species. A concentration of negative ions was found at 74 km. The importance of the formation of these ions on the loss rate and recombination life time of positive cluster ions and hence on the positive ion composition is discussed. From the measured ion composition an altitude profile of nitric oxide is derived showing a concentration between 700 million/cucm and 300 million/cucm in the height range from 80 to 100 km.
- Publication:
-
Unknown
- Pub Date:
- 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978liip.rept.....B
- Keywords:
-
- Auroral Absorption;
- Ion Density (Concentration);
- Ion Production Rates;
- Lower Ionosphere;
- Auroral Ionization;
- D Region;
- Ion Distribution;
- Ionospheric Sounding;
- Nitric Oxide;
- Rocket Sounding;
- Geophysics