Origin of sodium in the upper atmosphere and altitude distributions of sodium atoms and its compounds
Abstract
The equilibrium of Na and its constituents NaO and NaO2 (which are the minor constituents in the atmosphere) is obtained after considering their chemical reactions and diffusion. In the steady state, the net flux of combined products of Na is constant. Inserting the diffusion velocity of Na and its constituents, the maximum concentration of Na is obtained. Assuming the numerical value of this concentration from the experiment of Gibson and Stanford, the next flux comes out to be -9.07 cm/s/day. The negative sign indicates that Na has extraterrestrial origin. The altitude distributions of Na, NaO and NaO2 are calculated for 90-100 height range.
- Publication:
-
Indian Journal of Radio and Space Physics
- Pub Date:
- April 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992IJRSP..21..101G
- Keywords:
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- Atmospheric Composition;
- Diffusion Coefficient;
- Sodium;
- Sodium Peroxides;
- Upper Atmosphere;
- Vertical Distribution;
- Chemical Reactions;
- Particle Diffusion;
- Geophysics