A study of the cleft region using synoptic ionospheric plasma data obtained by the polar orbiting satellites Aeros-B and Isis-2The concentrations of O(+) and NO(+) in the dayside high-latitude cleft region of the ionosphere are investigated based on synoptic particle and plasma measurements obtained by the polar orbiting Aeros-B and Isis-2 satellites. At a time when the orbital planes of the satellites are almost at right angles to each other, three maxima in ion temperature are observed, with two of them accompanied by an increased electron temperature and electron density irregularities, and the density of the molecular ions NO(+) and O2(+) is found to increase at the expense of O(+) density. Results are discussed in terms of a theory relating perpendicular electric fields to oxygen atom reaction rates. Systematic analysis of the Aeros data base reveals 14 additional instances of O(+) to NO(+) conversion, with a large variety of forms and structures reflecting the complex structure and dynamics of the high-latitude dayside ionosphere.
Document ID
19800067432
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Kist, R. (Fraunhofer-Institut fuer physikalische Weltraumforschung Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany)
Klumpar, D. (Texas, University Richardson, Tex., United States)