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Annual variation in temperature and composition of the thermosphere and upper mesosphereA three-dimensional circulation model, including UV (O2 dissociation) and EUV sources, is used to study the wind field and the effects of temperature and composition on annual thermospheric variations. The results are compared to those of OGO-6 and AE-C. Within an 800-1200 K temperature range, summer to winter temperature variation is studied as a function of solar activity. It is found that the model correctly predicts H, He, O, N2, O2, and Ar measurements. It is suggested that a small winter maximum in mesospheric temperature is caused by large-scale circulation induced by EUV heating. This effect, however, is masked by the energy released in O2 dissociation. The annual temperature amplitude and the winter oxygen bulge are noted to increase with increasing solar activity, whereas the winter helium bulge is noted to decrease with enhanced exospheric return flow. It is felt that the dependence of the F2 region winter anomaly on solar activity may be significantly affected by the solar activity effect in atomic oxygen.
Document ID
19780034223
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Mayr, H. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Harris, I.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Planetary Aeronomy Branch, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1977
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Symposium on Minor Constituents and Excited Species
Start Date: June 9, 1976
End Date: June 10, 1976
Accession Number
78A18132
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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