The effect of vibrationally excited nitrogen on the low-latitude ionosphere

Autor: B. Jenkins, G. J. Bailey, A. E. Ennis, R. J. Moffett
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 1997
Předmět:
Zdroj: Annales Geophysicae, Vol 15, Pp 1422-1428 (1997)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0992-7689
1432-0576
DOI: 10.1007/s00585-997-1422-2
Popis: The first five vibrationally excited states of molecular nitrogen have been included in the Sheffield University plasmasphere ionosphere model. Vibrationally excited molecular nitrogen reacts much more strongly with atomic oxygen ions than ground-state nitrogen; this means that more O+ ions are converted to NO+ ions, which in turn combine with the electrons to give reduced electron densities. Model calculations have been carried out to investigate the effect of including vibrationally excited molecular nitrogen on the low-latitude ionosphere. In contrast to mid-latitudes, a reduction in electron density is seen in all seasons during solar maximum, the greatest effect being at the location of the equatorial trough.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
Externí odkaz: