Latitudinal distribution of electron concentration from the Alouette-II topside sounder
Abstract
The latitudinal electron distribution at heights up to 3000 km are studied on the basis of the Alouette-2 electron density profiles. The topside electron density is found to decrease with increasing distance from the equator, leading to the formation of a trough between mid- and high-latitudes for the day and nighttime winter hemisphere, and only for nighttime during other seasons. The trough, however, is not always seen at the F2 peak. Plasma scale heights obtained from the electron density profiles exhibit a sharp decrease at and above the trough latitudes. This points to a predominance of atomic oxygen ions and to a depletion of lighter ions at these latitudes.
- Publication:
-
Indian Journal of Radio and Space Physics
- Pub Date:
- June 1973
- Bibcode:
- 1973IJRSP...2..134P
- Keywords:
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- Alouette 2 Satellite;
- Electron Density Profiles;
- Geomagnetic Latitude;
- Ionospheric Electron Density;
- Upper Ionosphere;
- Annual Variations;
- Diurnal Variations;
- F 2 Region;
- Oxygen Atoms;
- Geophysics