High latitude quiet summer ion composition profiles derived from a combined ion line/plasma line incoherent scatter experiment
Abstract
High latitude quiet summer ion composition values in the altitude range from 200 to 245 km have been derived from a combined ion line/plasma line experiment in a full five-parameter fit. The EISCAT UHF radar was used with a 5 × 14 μs multipulse scheme for the ion line measurements, giving a range resolution of 3 km. Plasma line signals from the same altitudes were measured with a 70 μs pulse using a spectrum analyzer. Significant deviations from the standard EISCAT composition model were found, mainly at the upper altitudes. The O + content was generally lower than predicted by the model. For the largest composition deviations, significant effects were seen in the temperatures, particularly in the electron temperature. The electron temperatures derived by a standard ion line fit applying the model were underestimated by up to 15%.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics
- Pub Date:
- January 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0021-9169(90)90117-6
- Bibcode:
- 1990JATP...52...77F
- Keywords:
-
- Incoherent Scattering;
- Ionospheric Ion Density;
- Ionospheric Sounding;
- Polar Regions;
- Eiscat Radar System (Europe);
- Electron Energy;
- Incoherent Scatter Radar;
- Oxygen Ions;
- Summer;
- Ultrahigh Frequencies