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Ionosphere and atmosphere of the moon in the geomagnetic tailThe paper presents calculations of the densities and energies of the various constituents of the lunar ionosphere during the time that the moon is in the geomagnetic tail; the surface concentrations of neon and argon are calculated from a theoretical model to be 3,900 and 1,700, respectively. It is found that a hydrostatic model of the ionospheric plasma is inadequate because the gravitational potential energy of the plasma is considerably smaller than its thermal energy. A hydrodynamic model, comparable to that used to describe the solar wind, is developed to obtain plasma densities and flow velocities as functions of altitude. The electromagnetic properties of the quiescent ionosphere are then investigated, and it is concluded that plasma effects on lunar induction can be neglected for quiescent conditions in the geomagnetic tail lobes.
Document ID
19780031553
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Daily, W. D.
(Eyring Research Institute Provo, Utah, United States)
Barker, W. A.
(Eyring Research Inst. Provo, UT, United States)
Parkin, C. W.
(Santa Clara, University Santa Clara, Calif., United States)
Clark, M.
(California, University Los Angeles, Calif., United States)
Dyal, P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
November 10, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 82
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
78A15462
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-017-027
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-45-001-040
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-2075
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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