Helium escape from the terrestrial atmosphere: The ion outflow mechanism
Abstract
We have computed global He+ escape fluxes for a range and a variety of diurnal, seasonal, universal time, and solar activity geophysical conditions. We average over the short-term variables and compute the globally averaged escape flux for a range of cutoff latitudes, which separate regions of open and closed field lines, during one solar cycle. The global escape flux averaged over a solar cycle was computed, and we find that a cutoff latitude of about 60° or lower is sufficient to balance the outgassing from the Earth's crust.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- February 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1029/95JA02208
- Bibcode:
- 1996JGR...101.2435L
- Keywords:
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- Ionosphere: Polar cap ionosphere;
- Ionosphere: Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions;
- Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Evolution of the atmosphere