Empirical model of global electron temperature distribution between 300 and 700 km based on data from Aeros-A

An empirical model function of the global electron temperature distribution has been determined based on the measurements of the planar Retarding Potential Analyzer on-board the Aeros-A satellite. The model represents the mean temperature between 300 and 700 km altitude at 0300 LT and 1500 LT depending on latitude, longitude, and height. The model values are compared with all the measured data to show the accuracy achieved and the mean spread of the data for different latitudes. A clear correlation was not found between the electron temperature and geophysical indices such as Kp or sunspot number for the period of low solar activity between January and August, 1973. Seasonal and annual effects could not be detected. The mathematical background and method used to generate the model function is described in the appendix.